Our preschool classes are specially planned for the unique needs and skills of children 3 and 4 years old, as well as those in Pre-Kindergarten. In Shepherd's Village these classes are called Pandas and Kangaroos.
Preschoolers entering the Pandas class in the fall must be 3 by December 2. The Kangaroos class includes children who turn 4 by December 2, plus children in Pre-K or transitional kindergarten. Children have the flexibility of using toys in the classroom as well as exploring the large outdoor playground.
Learning
Using a combination of active and interactive learning methods and exciting storytelling tools, we help children discover, understand, and apply God's word. Each hour allows time for free play and exploration, music time, a large group teaching time, and a small group activity and application time.
Small Groups
An exciting component of this program is the formation of small groups within each class. Your child will be placed with a small group leader and 6-8 friends and neighbors who each week will experience together the truths of the day's lesson. These small groups further our ministry by allowing kids to see the love of Jesus through that special adult, and will begin to develop for them the joy of fellowship and Christian community. Please consider the positive results of consistent and regular attendance at your chosen hour so that your child can benefit fully from the special attention and personal welcome that these small groups provide. Because all the activities fit together, we don't want your child to miss out on a single part of the morning. You can help make that happen by doing your best to arrive on time each week so your child can start right in making the connections with their friends and leaders.
Getting Involved
As the year progresses, you will have the opportunity to get to know your child's small group leader and the other members of their small group. Please support them in prayer as they faithfully serve each week in your child's classroom. If your child's small group leader needs to be absent on a particular week, you might be asked to participate with your child during the program hour. This is a great chance for you to get to know some of your child's friends, and to show them the importance of what they are learning. You'll have a blast taking part and you'll be blessed by the truth of the lesson too.
Learn With Your Child
This curriculum also welcomes you to play an important part in what your child is learning. Since the mission statement of Children's Ministries at MPPC is "to partner with families in bringing their children to Christ" we are excited about the ways you can participate with us. Each week when you pick up your child, you'll receive a "Today I learned..." handout and coloring page. This handout will tell you what we did in class and will provide you with questions and activities to help you reinforce the Bible lesson at home. We hope you'll take advantage of this helpful tool.