A Message to the Community - July 3, 2020
A few weeks ago, the wardens, vestry, and I made the difficult decision to close St. Mary’s Preschool.
St. Mary’s, like many other small organizations, has been working hard to keep our mission going while also making ends meet at this difficult time. While the preschool was an important and well-run program, over the past few years we have noted a decline in enrollment as well as an increase in costs. This has led to two years of deep deficits which the church simply cannot afford. Additionally, the public school’s new universal pre-k program further reduced our viability.
When the decision was made, we communicated this to the teachers and parents, and are doing everything possible to honor the legacy of the preschool and care for everyone involved. All tuition payments from last April forward have been returned, teachers are being paid through the end of their contract year (August), we are providing teacher references/ recommendations to other schools, and donating furniture and supplies to other preschool programs.
I would like to thank preschool director Miss Ida and all of the preschool teachers for the fantastic work they did in the classroom. We are all very grateful and proud of what they have accomplished over the years in molding young hearts and minds, and preparing them for the transition to “big kid school."
Personally, I will really miss our chapel time, which was a highlight of my week. The children’s gleeful welcome always put a smile on my face. It was a privilege to watch as they grew in knowledge and stature, and I was often amused at where the train of thought would take us from week to week.
Although we will no longer have a preschool, we remain dedicated to our mission of Christian formation and service, and a small committee has been formed to explore how we can best accomplish this with the preschool space. We care deeply for the families in our community, and we will be there however we can.
Father Rick
Preschool Program
Our mission at St. Mary's Community Preschool is to teach our students that working hard, opening your heart to others, and with God's love, you can achieve great things in life.
St. Mary's Community Preschool Program is where the excitement for learning begins. Our Early Childhood program offers time and space for young children to be children. We provide a place where they are free to play, explore, and imagine. It is designed to lead them from wonder to discovery and from investigation to affirmation.
It is our primary goal to provide the opportunity for all children to associate learning with pleasure and to develop a positive sense of self. We are committed to collaborating with parents in sharing religious beliefs and values with the children.
SMCP offered the following programs for 2019-2020 school year:
Two's (age 2) Monday - Friday 9:00am - 11:45am
Preschool (age 3) M/W/F 9:00am - 11:45am
PreK (age 4) M-F 9:00am - 11:45am
You may download the welcome letter and registration packet for the 2019-2020 school year here.
Tuition assistance was available to those who qualify.
How to apply for Financial Aid see form here.
