About our Early Childhood Program
At Anchor, we offer an Early Childhood Education (ECE) program to children ages 3 through 5. We follow an inquiry-based curriculum that is Christ-centered. We create an environment that is stimulating, nurturing, and supportive of young learners. Early Childhood Education is an integral part of the school and provides an excellent base from which the children progress into Kindergarten. On a daily basis, children are provided with opportunities to explore, observe, question, and construct knowledge from the world around them. Teachers work alongside students; they watch, inquire, and interact, in order to learn more about what interests each child. The ECE program is designed to provide an authentic learning pathway for children, where teachers thoughtfully provide the skills and strategies needed to investigate the world around them.
Anchor offers flexible scheduling to meet the needs of our families. Anchor opens each day at 7:00 am and operates as late as 6:00 pm. The ECE program operates through all twelve months of the year and during most breaks and school in-service days. Our Early Childhood Education program is available on both a full-time and part-time basis. For part-time care, families pay an hourly rate, and must designate the days of intended use by the 15th of the previous month. For more details, click here for our Parent Handbook.
Anchor offers flexible scheduling to meet the needs of our families. Anchor opens each day at 7:00 am and operates as late as 6:00 pm. The ECE program operates through all twelve months of the year and during most breaks and school in-service days. Our Early Childhood Education program is available on both a full-time and part-time basis. For part-time care, families pay an hourly rate, and must designate the days of intended use by the 15th of the previous month. For more details, click here for our Parent Handbook.
Purpose / Philosophy
A Christ-centered community focused on the growth of the whole child by partnering with families to provide an inclusive environment where children flourish academically, spiritually, socially, and emotionally.
Anchor utilizes a Christ-centered Learner Profile as a guide for developing our approach to Universal Design for Learning. We focus on student attributes to nurture students' ability to use various skills, including communication, thinking, self-management, research, and social skills. Furthermore, we encourage mindful approaches to resilience, perseverance, and inquiry, to foster principled and balanced individuals.
Christ-Centered Learner Profile
Students reflect on their Christ-centered Learner Profile attributes in a supportive and challenging environment:
Academics
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Spiritual
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Social
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Emotional
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General Learning Targets
Every Anchor student will demonstrate the following:
- Solid Foundation of Knowledge
- High Level Thinking
- Effective Communication
- Positive Behaviors
- Community Appreciation
Activities
Your child will be assigned a specific classroom based on your child’s date of birth. The staff members plan schedules, weekly themes, and age appropriate learning activities based on the developmental level of the group.
Chapel & Prayer
Participants of our Early Childhood program will join the rest of Anchor Lutheran School weekly for Chapel. Spiritual songs and a short message will be shared. Parents are welcome to join us Wednesdays at 9:10 am for Chapel.
Additionally, Bible stories are shared in class each day. Prayers are said before snack and lunch.
Additionally, Bible stories are shared in class each day. Prayers are said before snack and lunch.
Snacks
Anchor provides healthy snacks each morning and afternoon. Each snack consists of two components from the following list: a dairy or protein, a grain, a vegetable, a fruit, and fruit juice or milk. Please remember to indicate on the application form if your child has any food allergies. We will substitute another food or drink if needed or ask you to provide snacks for your child in the case of extreme allergic reactions.
Lunches
Anchor Lutheran School Early Childhood Program does not have a hot lunch option. We ask that you send a lunch with your child. We have a refrigerator, a hot water tap, and a microwave if your child needs lunch heated. Please send utensils as needed.
Nutritious lunches are important in helping children grow and learn. We urge you to send a lunch that meets USDA requirements, which include:
Nutritious lunches are important in helping children grow and learn. We urge you to send a lunch that meets USDA requirements, which include:
- Protein (meat, cheese, egg, fish or peanut butter)
- Bread (or other grain product)
- Milk
- Two fruits or vegetables (or one of each)
Program Size and Ratios
The licensed program is presently limited to a maximum of 155 children. Early Childhood maximum group size is twenty students per classroom. An adult to child ratio of 1 to 10 is always met or exceeded. Your child is assigned to one of our four classrooms and staff based on his/her age.