PLAY-BASED, CHRIST-FOCUSED
Play is designed in a child's mind based on their individual interests, creativity, and clever thinking. This play provides pathways through which children can learn and gain knowledge of their world. Little Miracles’ 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 daily 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, Little Miracles desire to foster the learning that most assuredly comes from play!
CLASS SCHEDULE
THREE YEAR OLD PRESCHOOL
Tuesday & Thursday
9 am-11:30 am
Children should be three by September 1, 2023 (unless otherwise discussed with staff). In addition, children must be toilet trained.
FOUR YEAR OLD PRESCHOOL
Monday, Wednesday & Friday (3 days)
9:00 am-12 noon
or
Monday-Friday (5 days)
9:00 am-12 noon
Children should be four by September 1, 2023 (unless otherwise discussed with staff). In addition, children must be toilet trained.
TESTIMONIALS
OUR PROGRAM
LITTLE MIRACLES PRESCHOOL IS DESIGNED TO MEET BOTH THE DEVELOPMENTAL AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN. ACCORDINGLY, 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 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. In addition, children will learn the importance of words and how to communicate to express feelings, resolve conflicts, and cooperate with one another.
EMOTIONAL
Preschool is a natural environment where a child may grow and develop emotionally. 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 ways to express themselves through the arts. In addition, our program provides opportunities to nurture hand-eye coordination and fine motor development daily.
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 and 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 an elementary education degree and 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 (17), Holden (15), and Greyer (12).
Brooke Ancrile
TEACHER
Brooke graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in genetics. She continued her education at Duke University with a Ph.D. in pharmacology and cancer biology. Before 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 (12) and Sophie (10).
Beth Vanderson
TEACHER
Beth has always enjoyed teaching and caring for young children. For many years, she taught Sunday school, directed vacation bible school programs, and directed children’s church musicals. After raising her three daughters and assisting at a local church’s preschool, Beth sought a degree in early childhood education. From 1999-2018 she developed, directed, and was the lead teacher of Little Miracles Preschool. Her greatest joy was sharing the stories and love of Jesus with her students and teaching them about God’s infinite love for them. She felt privileged to be the children’s first teacher and now is delighted to see many of them as high school and college graduates. Beth and her husband, Mark, have three grown daughters, three sons-in-law, and ten grandchildren whom she adores.
Robin Lafond
TEACHER
Robin graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in elementary education. Robin has been a camp counselor, Sunday School teacher, classroom paraprofessional, tutor, and first grade teacher in the Kalamazoo and Portage area. A great joy of hers is seeing children make discoveries and succeed in school, especially while developing confidence in themselves based on how God loves and views them. Now she and her husband, Dan, enjoy spending time with their children, Mason (7) and Abby (5), a graduate of Little Miracles Preschool.
CONTACT US
6726 Texas Drive
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
269-353-2700 EXT 222