Grace Preschool
Welcome to the Award Winning Grace Preschool!
Thank you for visiting our site and considering our program. Our mission at Grace Preschool is to provide high-quality care and early childhood education in a safe, nurturing play-based environment that will encourage hands-on exploration and problem-solving. Please schedule a tour of our school by contacting Ashley Wissler at 515-279-5942 or AshleyWissler@gracedesmoines.org
Who we are
Honoring the diversity of our faith journeys, our welcome is extended to all – people of all races, sexes, ethnic backgrounds, generations, physical and mental abilities, economic conditions, sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. No matter who you are, no matter where you are in your life, you are welcome here.
History
Grace Preschool is a Des Moines tradition that began in 1966. We are fully licensed by the Department of Human Services and participate in Iowa’s Quality Rating System. We are a non-profit organization owned by Grace United Methodist Church and operate as a community outreach program.
Vision Statement
Our vision is to provide developmentally appropriate learning experiences that will allow children to experience success and develop an enthusiasm for learning.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide high-quality care and early childhood education in a safe, nurturing play-based environment that will encourage hands-on exploration and problem-solving.
Grace Preschool Philosophy
Children Develop at Their Own Pace
All children follow a predictable pattern in their development, but each child is unique with his or her own rate and timing of growth and development.
Play-Based Learning Enhances Development
A developmentally appropriate curriculum that emphasizes play can enhance a child’s development in all areas – physical, language, cognitive, and social-emotional.
Discovery Through Play is Essential
Through play, young children experience the joy of discovery.
A Nurturing Environment Builds Confidence
A caring, nurturing environment leads to the development of your child’s self-esteem, respect for others, and a love for learning.
Hands-On Exploration Encourages Growth
The environment should be organized into different interest areas that encourage hands-on exploration. It is through hands-on learning that children develop independence, pro-social behaviors, and decision-making skills.
A Balanced Approach to Learning is Key
Children learn best through a balance of teacher-directed and child-initiated activities. Large group times are kept short with the goal of active participation for each child.
Health and Safety are Priorities
It is our responsibility to maintain a safe, healthy environment that promotes good health and nutrition and contributes to the prevention of injury and illness.
Parent-Teacher Communication is Vital
Communication between parents and teachers is part of a high-quality program.
Curriculum
The Grace Preschool curriculum focuses on four main areas of development:
Social and emotional
Physical
Cognitive
Language
Interest Areas
Our classrooms are arranged by the following interest areas:
Blocks
Dramatic Play
Manipulative
Art
Library
Sensory
Discovery
Music and Movement
Computers
Interest areas allow children many opportunities to explore, problem-solve, and make new discoveries. Teachers act as facilitators in guiding children’s learning. We also provide large and small group teacher-directed activities.
Project Based Learning
What is Project Based Learning?
Project Based Learning is the in-depth investigation or research of real world topics (trees, pets, wheels). It includes highly motivated activities and experiences that allow for a student to be active participant in his/her own learning.
Why are we doing Project Based Learning?
Both themes and units have an important place in early childhood curriculum. However, they are not substitutes for projects, in which children ask questions that guide the investigation and make decisions about the activities to be undertaken. Unlike themes units, the topic of a project is a real phenomenon that children can investigate directly, rather than mainly through library research. Project topics draw children’s attention to questions such as: How do things work? What do people do? What tools do people use?
How can parents and families get involved?
Share knowledge of the topics (Gardner comes in and demonstrates gardening, Chef or Home Cook demonstrate cooking, Author shares the writing process)
Bring in materials related to themes (family photos, rake, old cookie pan etc.)
Volunteer time in the classroom or on field trips.
CACFP (USDA) – Non Discrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
email:
Program.Intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider
Nutrition Program Information
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All Rights Reserved.