Fall is upon us and we couldn't be happier about it!  Fall brings all the wonderful things and back-to-school vibes.  Our classes are settling into their new classroom routines and getting acclimated to the teachers, rules and new friends.  The halls are filled with joy and laughter, the sounds of children! 

Covid is still a very real threat.  We continue to navigate the rocky waters with an abundance of cleaning procedures to help ensure that our preschoolers remain safe and healthy.  LOTS of other things seem to be floating around the community, too, like flu and strep.  Help us keep everyone safe by adhering to the protocols and by staying home if you're just not sure how your preschooler is feeling.  

Looking ahead...  The preschool is planning fall field trips, parties, pictures and a fire house visit.  We have so much to look forward to! 

We will never try to steer you into making an educational choice for your child.  It's hard (especially in Delaware where you have school choice!)  We work closely with the Seaford School District and know how hard they work for their students.  

From our standpoint, though, we value a foundation in learning through play and exploration.  Studies are showing that children are less and less engaged in active play, even at home.  Screen time is said to average 3+ hours a day (even at the preschool level).  

We value a learning through peer interactions, imaginative play, dramatic play and just plain FUN.  Our students have the rest of their educational careers to be stuck at desks or at computers.  So come play, build, create and get dirty with us!  

Tuition for currently registered students is due on August 1st.  Tuition must be paid on time to hold your student's spot in the class.  You can mail your payment to the preschool at 300 N. Pine Street, Seaford, DE 19973.  

Back to School packets will be mailed at the close of the first week of August.  This packet includes an informational letter from the preschool director, an introductory letter from your child's teachers, a supply list and a schedule for the first week of school.  This packet will contain all you need to know to start your year with success! 

Good news!  The Office of Child Care Licensing has relaxed some of the Covid regulations.  It's looking like our school year may start a little differently than it ended in May.  We look forward to sharing the latest details with you at back to school night on September 2nd.  

We cannot wait for the school year to begin!  It's going to be a great year and we look forward to sharing it with you.  

The preschool office is not manned fulltime in the summer months.  If you have an immediate need, please email Rae Murphy at stjohnspreschool123@gmail.com.  You can also leave a message on the preschool phone.  Messages are checked periodically throughout the week.  

Registration continues to be open for classes that have availability.  We regret that several classes are full with an extensive waitlist for Pre-Kindergarten.  If you are interested in a class, we highly recommend calling the preschool to inquire about availability and to be placed on the waitlist.  

Over the summer months classrooms are being cleaned and prepped for the start of our new school year in September.  Teachers are enjoying their time off, but continue to plan and brainstorm ideas for a successful 2021-2022 school year. We are anxiously awaiting further direction from the state regarding Covid regulations.  We do not anticipate any new direction until at least July, but recognize that the Covid status is ever changing and can continue to evolve right up until school begins.  

We look forward to hosting Parent Night on September 2nd and the first day with our students on September 7th.  

In the summer of 2020, we were a little uncertain how things would be.  We took the guidelines from the Office of Child Care Licensing and implemented before the start of the school year.  It wasn't easy (or cheap), but we take the health of our students and staff very seriously.  The school year would look different than ever before, that was knew for sure.  However, we set out to bring some normalcy back to the lives of our families through an opportunity for Early Childhood Christian Education in a fun and safe setting.  

September of 2020 came and we welcomed students into the building.  Parents had to watch from afar.  Drop offs were at the door, temperature checks were in place and the Covid questionnaire was a daily practice.  BUT, we were doing it!  And we were back!  And OH SO HAPPY! 

By October, we were settling into our new routines.  Field trips and programs were a thing of the past, but our teachers got creative and brought the FUN in to the classrooms.  School Spirit Days were in place.  Holiday celebrations were happening inside the rooms.  Fall celebrations, picture day, fire prevention - we covered it all.  Suddenly our teachers became the jills-of-all-trades! 

November was a quick month with breaks for Election Day, Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving.  We pushed forward with classes hosting in-class feasts and events.  Programs were recorded and sent to parents virtually.  It was different, but we were here!  

December came in all its Christmas Glory!  We had programs and pageants - all available for viewing online.  There were parties and goodies, presents and fun.  The winter break was met with sighs of relief!  We had done it!  We made it to the new year with no Covid incidents.  The Governor recommended an extended break for schools, so it was decided that we would be out until January 11th.  

January welcomed 2021 and more of the same in terms of Covid restrictions, but we were used to it by now and ready for the second half of the school  year.  Classes held parent conferences (socially distanced and Covid-safe), got ready for the Super Bowl and enjoyed all the wonders of Winter. 

By February, Covid was old news and routines were just part of our every day lives.  We had become pros! Registration kicked off and we found that families were definitely ready for some normalcy! 

March, April and May have been a blur and the school year we anticipated so much has been passing us by faster than we ever could have expected!  With loosened restrictions from the Governor, we anticipate some changes for the 2021-2022 school year.  However, this school year has shown us that we can do it!  We are looking forward to a great new year starting in September! 

Our classes have been busy preparing for spring's arrival over the last couple weeks.  Students have been learning about the story of Jesus's death and resurrection.  They are celebrating Easter with parties and egg hunts.  They are also greatly anticipating Spring Break (the week of April 5-8).  

Since our return from winter break in January, the time has flown by and our days together are coming to a close.  The final weeks of preschool will be spent reflecting on our successes experienced this school year.  We thank God for being able to return to school and to remain Covid-free this year.  

Registration is well underway!  A couple of our classes already have wait lists for the 2021-2022 school year beginning in September.  Give the office a call if you're considering preschool for next school year.  Don't wait until August to secure a spot! (302-629-2289) 

Winter at St. John's Preschool is full of wonder and amazement.  Students are learning about an array of themes that include Presidents, winter, heart and dental health, transportation, unicorns, Black History Month, senses, underground and much more!  Our Kindergarten students continue to work towards the state standards and are identifying high frequency words, reading rhyming, predicting, exploring cause and effect, working on numbers 1-100 and all that comes with being in kindergarten! 

In-house registration (for currently enrolled students) begins on Feb. 23rd.  Public registration opens on March 1.  If you are interested in Kindergarten, call the preschool now.  Registration is open to all for that class.  If you would like to schedule a tour, please call the preschool for an appointment.  

Lent begins a preschool initiative to complete 40 Acts of Kindness.  Students will be participating in doing kind acts for others in the weeks and days leading up to Easter.  We hope you will consider joining us in this! 

We are excited to welcome back our students and families for the second half of the school year. Covid measures are still in place and we are working hard to keep our students and staff happy and healthy.  You can help by keeping your child home if he/she has cold or flu symptoms, has had a positive covid-19 exposure and by adhering to the proper stay at home guidelines if you have or suspect you have Covid-19.  

Looking ahead for January, here are some important dates:
Jan. 14:  Delayed Opening - all classes begin at 9:30 and end at noon or 1:30 (PreK &K)
Jan. 18: MLK Jr. Day - Preschool Closed
Jan. 21:  School Spirit Day - Team Jersey Day
Jan. 28:  Parent Conference Day for all preschool classes - School CLOSED for Students 

We will be kicking off registration at the end of February (March 1 for public registration).  Make sure you look for that information in your child's backpack.  

Happy New Year!  We have a lot of exciting things planned for 2021!  

Seeing our littles in PJs and singing Christmas carols, sharing presents and Christmas snacks... it has all brought us so much joy this holiday season.  They have been happy and healthy and for that, we are the most grateful.  Thank you to everyone that has extended kind words of gratitude to the teachers, given presents, written cards or notes.  The teachers have truly been a blessing through all of this and while we will dearly miss the children, the teachers have earned a long winter's nap!  

The preschool office will not be staffed consistently over the break.  The administrator will be working sporadically.  The best way to get in touch with the preschool during this time is through email at stjohnspreschool123@gmail.com. 

Looking ahead:
Dec. 21- January 10:  Christmas Break
Jan. 11:  Return to school
Jan. 18: MLK Jr. Day - Preschool Closed
Jan. 28:  Parent Conference Day for all preschool classes - School CLOSED for Students 
February 23:  In House Registration Opens
March 1:  Public Registration Begins