PLAY-BASED, CHRIST-FOCUSED
Play is designed in the mind of a child based on his or her individual interests, creativity, and thoughtful thinking. This play provides pathways through which children can learn and gain knowledge of their world. Little Miracles’s preschool program is designed to meet the developmental needs of each child while challenging and encouraging children to think beyond their mastery of activities. Our atmosphere is full of laughter, discussion, thoughtful silence, joyful music, contemplative words, and exclamations of spontaneous creative ideas. Our faith grows as our understanding of God, His world, and His love for us is discovered through His Word. Our children grow every day as we sing praise and worship music and look for God’s provision in our thematic units. We marvel at His creation right outside our windows in our nature-scape play space. To a child, play is their work. Because of this, it is the desire of Little Miracles to foster the learning that most assuredly comes from play!
CLASS SCHEDULE
THREE YEAR OLD PRESCHOOL
Tuesday & Thursday
9 am-11:30 am
Children must be three by September 1, 2019. Children MUST be toilet trained.
FOUR YEAR OLD PRESCHOOL
Monday, Wednesday & Friday
9:00 am-12 noon
Children must be four by September 1, 2019.
OUR PROGRAM
LITTLE MIRACLES PRESCHOOL IS DESIGNED TO MEET BOTH THE DEVELOPMENTAL AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN. OUR PROGRAM PREPARES STUDENTS FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE BY FOSTERING EACH OF THE FIVE DOMAINS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT: SPEECH AND LANGUAGE, FINE MOTOR, GROSS MOTOR, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL, AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT.
OUR PLAY-BASED, CHRIST-FOCUSED PROGRAM PLACES EMPHASIS ON DEVELOPMENT IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:
SPIRITUAL
Each day will bring a time for spiritual discovery. Children will worship God as they learn how great He is and as they learn of God’s love for them. Time spent reading the Bible will reveal virtues of love, kindness, patience, and caring for others. Children will discover God’s creation in our thematic units—all that He has created and provided for us in our great, big world.
SOCIAL
A large part of our preschool day will be spent in social settings where children play together, share, and learn to take turns. Children will learn the importance of words and how to communicate in order to express feelings, resolve conflicts, and cooperate with one another.
EMOTIONAL
Preschool is a natural environment in which a child may grow and develop emotionally. A healthy self-esteem and self-awareness are promoted daily as we express God’s love for each child. The children will discover that God made everyone with unique gifts and skills. Little Miracles children will realize that even preschoolers can use their gifts for God’s glory!
CREATIVE
Children will explore different artistic mediums and experiment with different ways to express themselves through the arts. Our program provides opportunities to nurture hand-eye coordination and fine motor development throughout each day.
PHYSICAL
Children will spend a portion of each day playing outside, where each child will have plenty of time to stretch, run, jump, and explore God’s creation. Physical exercise helps to develop coordination in little arms and legs. Children will learn that God knit them together, and they will enjoy their ability to play!
CURRICULUM
Little Miracles Preschool structures the school year around thematic units that are chosen to spark the interest of each child, while providing a multitude of ways to develop an array of skills. Learning through a thematic program allows children to build upon prior knowledge of the theme as well as make connections to the real world.
Little Miracles utilizes the award-winning curriculum, GET SET FOR SCHOOL, within each thematic unit.
GET SET FOR SCHOOL integrates play-based and academic learning and is divided into three areas of focus as explained below:
LITTLE MIRACLES STAFF
Suzanne Ryckaert-Eldridge
DIRECTOR/TEACHER
Suzanne graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in elementary education and with an endorsement for early childhood development. Suzanne taught kindergarten before becoming a teacher and the director at Little Miracles. Suzanne’s goal in the classroom is for the children to love learning, but more importantly to love God, to grow in their understanding of Him, and to learn about His great love for each child. Outside the classroom, Suzanne enjoys spending time with her husband, Brett, and their children, Harper (13), Holden (11), and Greyer (8).
Brooke Ancrile
ASSISTANT TEACHER
Brooke graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in genetics. She continued her education at Duke University with a PhD in pharmacology and cancer biology. Prior to teaching preschool, Brooke did postdoctoral research at Duke and headed up the research initiatives of the therapeutic endoscopy team at the Penn State Medical Center. Now, Brooke loves doing science experiments with her preschoolers! She and her husband, Jordy, have two children, Addie (8) and Sophie (6).
Christy Chavis
ASSISTANT TEACHER
Christy attended Oakland University where she studied Elementary and Early Childhood Education. Christy has many years of experience working in the early childhood field in both administrative and teaching roles. She has also enjoyed time coaching little league, youth softball and basketball. Christy volunteers in the youth group program at Southridge and plays on their softball league. Christy's time outside the classroom is spent watching her children, Jacob (20), Lauren (18), and Joshua (13), play sports and spending time with her husband, Jeff.
CONTACT US
6726 Texas Drive
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
269-353-2700 EXT 222