Interested in our program? Contact our director Allison Howell.

We truly believe that we can make a difference in our community and in the lives of the families we come in contact with by sharing the love of God with your children.

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6 )

Philosophy

Westview United Methodist Preschool is a unique, child-centered program, based on the best practices of early childhood education and sharing God’s love through example.  We wanted our current and prospective parents to know and understand our deeply-rooted beliefs and philosophy at WUMC.

Our teachers, director and church board crafted our statements of belief for an expounded view of our philosophy, beyond our brief mission & ministry statement.  These five areas clearly articulate our guiding principles to give you a comprehensive view of our program.

We believe….in supporting children’s social, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual development.

• Children express a range of emotions as a natural part of their development. We identify and acknowledge these emotions, and create opportunities for children to express them in healthy, constructive ways.
• Children model what they see. Teachers treat children and other staff with respect, kindness and empathy.
• Children are learning how to participate in group activities, get along with peers and develop trust for other adults. We support this task by creating opportunities for meaningful interactions with others, nurturing friendships, and teaching conflict resolution skills at every age.
• Children develop a sense of accomplishment and enhanced sense of self-esteem through competence and mastery of tasks. Children are provided opportunities to grow in independence and self-reliance through routines and activities.
• Children are developing a sense of what it means to be a spiritual being and grow in their faith and community. Through Chapel, we teach that God loves each of us, that He has created a world that we care for, and that we are to love and care for those around us.
• Children learn to spread God’s love and serve others by helping with various outreach opportunities within the Church, such as the community garden.

We believe….that children learn through play.

• Children naturally learn through what they see in the world. Teachers create a developmentally appropriate environment for each child to play, create, move, experiment, and express themselves.
• Children are active learners and have opportunities for choice, independence, and learning through play with real materials in hands-on direct ways.
• Children’s activities, materials and classroom curriculum are selected based on  children’s development: socially, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and intellectually.
• Children are provided a balance of indoor and outdoor time, active and quiet play and individual, small and large groupings.
• Children need routine and continuity in the classroom and with adults. We create consistency in the classroom through predictable schedules, activities, and enrichment activities

We believe….in respecting individual differences in children’s growth and development.

• Children learn best through small group play and one-on-one interactions with adults, therefore low child-to-teacher ratios are maintained.
• Children move through predictable developmental stages at their own rates. Children are provided support and encouragement and are not hurried through processes related to those milestones. Arbitrary age requirements are not imposed for milestones such as toileting, specific academic skills, etc., but rather celebrated by the adults around them.
• Children express creativity and self-expression through open-ended projects and experiences. Creative, child-directed play is encouraged in many forms such as drawing, painting, move & music, building, role play and more.

We believe….in experienced teachers that share our philosophies.

• The teacher’s role in the classroom is to be one of facilitator, nurturer, caregiver, and supporter of children, in a manner that is consistent with Jesus’s teachings and school philosophy.
• Teachers support and implement school philosophy, curriculum, and policies on a consistent basis.
• Teachers maintain open communication with parents through various means: at arrival and departure, through lesson plans, and electronic communications.

We believe….in family communication and involvement.

• The diversity of each family and child is welcomed, respected, and incorporated in an inclusive environment.
• Families receive frequent ongoing communication from teachers regarding their child’s developmental progress and classroom activities through various modes of communication.
• Families are incorporated into the program through a system of classroom activities , preschool gatherings and events, invitations to Westview United Methodist Church fellowship and worship opportunities, and notifications of local community events.

Westview UMC Preschool will follow the same calendar as the Williamson County School System in regards to holidays, teacher in-service and closings for inclement weather are concerned. If Williamson County schools will be closed for snow, the Preschool will be closed. If Williamson County schools open late, the Preschool will open late as well.