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SWEEMsusanna Wesley Early Education MinistryAmy Vandergrift, director or KARI SMITH, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR534-6866 or 539-5738, ext. 220Click Here for the SWEEM 2010 - 2011 Calendar!IntroductionFor a number of years First United Methodist Church's (FUMC) Playschool and Mother's Morning Out program has been one of the premier programs within the city. In the last several years the congregation at FUMC has expressed the need to provide a Christian based full-time care for pre-school children of our members and other families within our community. We are now also offering a full-day program for infants through Kindergarten (5 years of age).
To uniquely identify our new weekday pre-school programs, the name "Susanna Wesley Early Education Ministry" was chosen. To honor Susanna Wesley the "mother" of Methodism and an exceptional educator as well seemed appropriate. Ministry was also included because the overall program is a ministry to the children, the parents, and the church. This ministry operates as an outreach of First United Methodist Church "to be the visible body of the redeeming and healing Christ, touching God's world from the heart of the city." Just as Jesus emphasized the importance of children, our church maintains an environment where children are nurtured morally, intellectually, and physically. The Susanna Wesley Early Education Ministry offers combined full and half day programs, for infants through Kindergarten (5 years old). The instruction and care activities takes place in a Christian atmosphere filled with warmth, love, compassion, and enthusiasm. The programs of this Ministry will meet or exceed the standards established by the Alabama Department of Human Resources for day care centers.
Enrollment Process:Susanna Wesley Early Education Ministry is open to any child. Preference is given in this order: (1) Children of SWEEM Staff (2) Children already in the program (3) Siblings of children in the program (4) Church Members on Waiting List (5) Nonmembers on Waiting List (6) Community at large The program is structured to accommodate the following enrollment options:
Half-Day Program:The half-day program follows the public school calendar and begins one week after the start of the Fall term. Children in the half-day program attend from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM. With advance notification and approval of the Director, children in the half-day program may arrive early and/or stay late. There will be a charge for this accommodation.
Full- Day Program:The full-day program operates Monday through Friday and is open from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The Ministry will be closed for the following holidays: New Years Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day. Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The center will be closed the 3rd Friday in February for staff training and the 2nd full week in June for the Church’s
Kindergarten: The Susanna Wesley Early Education Ministry now offers a half-day kindergarten program. We are thrilled about our kindergarten class. An experienced, certified teacher leads the class and we have selected a fabulous curriculum. Our kindergartners will also take part in Music and Motor Skills, Bible Story, and weekly chapel time. If you have any questions, please call the SWEEM office at 534-6866. Thanks again for your support of the Susanna Wesley Early Education Ministry. [Just a Note: FUMC had kindergarten classes before kindergarten became available in the public schools.]
Operations Features:Each child present will be served a morning snack, a noon meal, and an afternoon snack. Each child must be signed in and out only by a known and authorized person. Transportation vehicles that are leaving or picking up the children will enter from Lincoln Street through a driveway along side the playground and exit on Randolph Street.
The Susanna Wesley Early Education Ministry:
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