Our Philosophy

Preschool is the first introduction to a lifetime of learning, and it is a journey that should start off on the right foot.  To be effective  at the earliest level, a preschool must first meet the basic needs of the children, especially those of love, attention, respect and play. Preschool children are physically-oriented and active, and they use all of their senses to observe and explore their surroundings. Our preschool combines an ideal balance of age-appropriate learning experiences and structured play in a fun, safe, and loving environment.

We understand that the preschool years are a critical time when foundations for a child's cognitive, motor, emotional, social, and faith skills are being set.  Our goal is to nurture and encourage these skills in a Christian atmosphere.  Our curriculum is shaped to meet the indvidual needs of each child, as we strive to help children discover, explore and learn to their fullest potential.  All of God's children are welcome!

Our school is a peanut-free facility!

Our Classes

First United Methodist Preschool is a morning program which runs nine months a year, September through May.  Each classroom has two teachers at all times, and limits are placed on class size to provide an appropriate teacher/student ratio. 

​2  year-old class

When our terrific little 2 year-olds enter the preschool program, they soon find out that it is a special place where someone other than mom and dad will love them and take good care of them.  Because we understand that children develop by leaps and bounds during the age of 2, we split our 2 year-olds into a Younger 2's class and an Older 2's class. This allows our youngest students to interact with peers who are most closely aligned socially, physically, and verbally.  Cutoff for the Older 2's class is February 1 of the upcoming school year, and the cutoff for the Younger 2's class is September 1 of the upcoming school year.  

The 2's attend class two mornings a week. The 2 year-old curriculum is designed to emphasize a toddler's developing skills, including touching, manipulating, moving and expressing oneself verbally and physically. The 2 year-olds enjoy art, sensory activities, music and movement, story time and outdoor play, as well as a daily snack. The 2's attend Chapel with the 3 and 4 year-olds every Wednesday.

3 year-old class

When children attend our 3 year-old class, by playing and socializing with children their own age, they find that each member of the class is a special child of God, but not the center of the universe!  We help them find their own place as we build on the foundations established in the 2 year-old program.

The 3's attend class four mornings a week. The 3 year-old curriculum provides a variety of fun, age-appropriate activities that teach the children about colors, shapes, letters and numbers, as well as various holiday-themed lessons.  Art projects, which primarily involve coloring and painting, help to develop dexterity and promote creativity.  In addition, the 3 year-olds enjoy structured play, circle time, music and movement, snack time and play each school day.  The children are given special responsibilities to promote self-confidence on their "Leader" days, including show-and-tell.  The 3's also attend Chapel every Wednesday and walk to the public library for a special story time once a month.

4 year-old class

Using the skills developed throughout the preschool program, the 4-year-olds come to realize that they can do many things for themselves, and that they are ready to go out into the world and use what they have learned.  The 4-year-olds attend class five mornings a week and participate in the following activities on a daily basis:
  • Circle Time-includes music and movement, counting and number skills, calendar topics and show-and-tell.  During this time, the children also learn about letter recognition and letter/sound relationships, as well as listening and following directions.
  • Center Time-children choose to play and learn among nine various learning centers, each equipped with developmentally-appropriate materials designed to challenge, entertain and teach.  Centers encourage development of fine motor skills, dramatic and imaginative play, sensory awareness, sharing and cooperation.  
  • Art/Handwriting-daily art projects involve cutting with scissors, gluing, coloring, painting, folding, tracing and other fine motor skills.  Craft projects are designed with the intent to encourage following directions but also provide a creative outlet.  During art time, children also work on their pre-writing skills.

In addition, the 4-year-olds enjoy story time, snack time and outdoor play each day.  The 4's attend chapel once a week and attend story time at the public library once a month.  Once a week, the 4-year-olds may also choose to stay until 1:00 pm for Lunch Bunch, during which time they enjoy a packed lunch with their friends (for a nominal fee).

Our Teachers

It is very important for children to feel a sense of trust and comfort from their teachers, especially at the preschool level. Our enthusiastic teachers genuinely care about children, and they understand each child's individual developmental needs and learning styles.  Our teachers strive to develop in children a sense of confidence in their educational capabilities, as well as an enjoyment for school and learning in general.   They take the time to help each child discover, in his or her own way, the fascinating and fun world of school.

Our Schedule and Fees

Our school year is from September until May, coinciding with the Rowan-Salisbury public school calendar.
  • Younger 2's                                         T/Th                8:30am-11:30am  
    • (must be 2 by September 1)  
  • Older 2's                                              M/W               8:30am-11:30am  
    • (must have already turned 2 by February 1) 
  • 3's Class                                              Tuesday - Friday       8:30am-12:00pm  
    • (must be 3 by September 1)
  • 4's Class                                              Monday - Friday      8:30am-12:00pm  
    • ​(must be 4 by September 1)

Please note that a non-refundable registration fee is due at the time of registration to ensure your child's place in a class:
  • $100.00 for the first child
  • $90.00 for the family's  second child, and 
  • $80.00 for the family's third child

2022-2023 Monthly tuition rates:
  • ​2 Day- $145
  • 4 Day- $185
  • 5 Day- $200

Contact our director to schedule a visit! We feel that once you visit our inviting, friendly classrooms and meet our caring and dedicated teachers, you will feel comfortable in choosing First United Methodist Preschool as the place to begin your child's exciting educational journey.

Contact Us

Director Kelly Austin
Click here for email
Phone: ​704-636-3121  ex. 115