Weekday School

The mission of the Weekday School is to create a loving Christian environment where children can learn through play.

Our vision for each child who attends Weekday School is that they would:

• know and trust in God’s love.
• develop a sense of wonder about God’s world.
• experience the joy of friendships with other children.
• gain confidence and self-esteem as a child of God.
• demonstrate academic readiness for kindergarten.

Philosophy

At the Weekday School, we believe:

• Parents are a child’s primary educators. We believe our role is to partner with parents, encouraging the growth and development of the whole child.
• God created each child in a unique and wonderful way. We believe all children learn, grow and develop at their own pace.
• Children have an innate capacity to know and love God. We believe children grow in their faith through experiences of loving interaction within the classroom and opportunities to explore child-appropriate Bible stories and concepts.
• Young children learn best through meaningful play. We believe that a classroom environment that invites children to play will naturally motivate them to learn about themselves, others, and the world around them.
• Children learn with all of their senses. We believe children benefit from a hands-on learning environment that encourages curiosity, imagination, and independence.
• Spiritual, social and emotional development is as important as cognitive development in the preschool years. We believe children need intentional opportunities to learn and practice social skills in a group setting as a foundational preparation for future schooling and life experiences.
• Relationships are the foundation for all learning. We believe that a loving, nurturing relationship between the teacher and the child is essential.
• Discipline is a learning opportunity based on the grace we all receive from God. We believe that children learn empathy and appropriate behavior over time with repeated practice and loving support.

Curriculum

Our theme-based curriculum relates to the seasons of the year or developmentally appropriate topics for preschoolers. Each theme is designed explore skills in language, math, science, fine motor development, social/emotional development, and art. In addition, we have developed an age-appropriate Bible curriculum that relates to our units and includes stories, finger plays, songs, and games. 

Music and movement are offered on a regular basis for students according to age level. Learning extends to our outdoor playground/indoor playroom environments where children are encouraged to run, climb, crawl, and play. Our approach to discipline focuses on teaching children what to do to get their needs met in appropriate ways at school. We use a variety of tools such as intentional instruction (Green/Red choices), emotional management skills, clear structure and routines, modeling, coaching, and redirecting to support children in practicing getting along with others. The goal of our curriculum is to encourage the growth and development of the whole child by providing rich learning opportunities in a playful, age-appropriate environment. 

Accreditation

Weekday School is accredited by the Christian Schools of Florida, a nationally recognized private school accrediting agency. Christian Schools of Florida standards and association have been formally reviewed and approved by the National Council for Private School Accreditation. NCPSA is a member and participant with the regional accreditation associations as part of the CITA Alliance (Commission of International and Trans-Regional Accreditation). 

History

First Presbyterian Church of Orlando established the Weekday School in 1950 as a ministry to young children within our congregation and the greater Orlando community. Beginning with one classroom and the belief that “play is a child’s most important work,” the Weekday School became known for its loving and dedicated teaching staff and its commitment to excellence in early childhood education.