What is Cornerstone All About?

Choosing the right preschool for your child is essential for giving your child the right foundation to be successful, comfortable, and familiar in a school setting. Cornerstone Christian Preschool, a mission of St.John Lutheran Church, has been a very successful and reputable preschool program for over 10 years. Although Cornerstone Christian Preschool is a Christian based preschool we accept children of all faiths and backgrounds and do not discriminate. We prepare children ages 3 to 5 years old for kindergarten; spiritually, academically, socially, and emotionally. We match the ISD 728 school district in regards to programs they are teaching children in their Kindergarten classes to provide an easier transition from preschool to kindergarten.

Cornerstone Curriculum:

Cornerstone Christian Preschool continuously follows the ISD 728 requirements for curriculum, as well as teach important Bible themes and preschool themes throughout the school year.

·         Every Day Math Curriculum:  A research-based, field-tested, and proven math curriculum. Teaches basic skills and conceptual thinking through a hands-on approach. 
\
      Visual Phonics: This program is also taught by ISD 728 to the kindergarteners and first graders. It teaches children how to be better readers sooner.

 ·       Little Treasures Reading : Macmillan/McGraw-Hill's comprehensive reading/language arts program, Treasures, offers proven tools and strategies for helping teachers give students what they need to succeed. High-quality literature, coupled with explicit instruction and ample practice, insures all students have what they need to learn and grow as lifelong readers and writers.

·         EZ Write Handwriting Curriculum: This program matches the ISD 728 handwriting program to ensure continuity and an easier transition from pre-k to kindergarten.

·         Bible Units: Every month at Cornerstone we teach the children a new Bible unit. During these units we focus on the message that God is teaching us through the story and how we can use these important lessons in our classrooms and at home. Often times the stories we focus on teach; forgiveness, patience, being kind to others, and trusting in God.

·         Monthly Theme Curriculum: Every year the teachers at Cornerstone develop a new monthly theme curriculum. Throughout the monthly theme we learn through observation, science, math, art, literacy, music and movement, and games. Some examples of monthly themes are; dinosaurs, let’s explore the past & future, wonderful world of worms, signs of spring, kids in the kitchen, and the wild west!

·         Physical Environment: Our environment is set up to offer the children the opportunity to make their own choices, as well as offer many directed learning opportunities.  The main classroom is divided into Learning Centers where children have the choices of a dramatic play area, block and building area, the art center, the math and manipulative center, the science and sensory center, as well as a writing center and a library/listening center. Outdoor/large motor time is incorporated into our curriculum every day as well as; two small groups, circle time, snack time, story, and prayer time.

Cornerstone Staff:

Our teachers are professionally trained and have a love for Christ and children that shows every day in the classrooms where they teach! Each staff member meets the professional requirements under the state of Minnesota to teach in a licensed preschool program. Each teacher, teacher’s aide, and assistant teacher has had a background check, and has been licensed in CPR, First Aid, SIDS/Shaken Baby Syndrome, and receives continuous training throughout the school year. Everyone employed at Cornerstone Christian Preschool is experienced, caring, fun, and love teaching God’s children!

Class Sizes:

Cornerstone Christian Preschool is dedicated to each child and family that enters our program. We believe that smaller student to teacher ratio is crucial to a successful early learning environment. Our classes are either 2 teachers to 10 students or 3 teachers to 20 students (in our 4’s and 5’s classes). In our 3 year old classes the maximum number of students will be 3 teachers to 16 students.

Communication:

We believe communication between home and school is KEY to a successful preschool program. Each month a monthly newsletter and calendar is sent home highlighting important events and curriculum that will be taught in the classroom. Along with the monthly newsletter and calendar Cornerstone has a blog that is updated weekly for the parents to view highlights of what their child learned in preschool throughout the week, as well as; notes that went home, reminders, and upcoming events. Parents are also given contact information to reach our director day or night to answer any concerns or questions you have regarding your child’s preschool experience.