Preschool and Kindergarten at Grand Rapids Christian Schools

The Olivia Haverkamp Early Learning Center (ELC) was established to accommodate the growing need for childcare in our surrounding communities. The ELC provides year-round childcare for children as young as 18 months old. Registration for this childcare option is currently open.  

Multi-Age Preschool

Children must be three years old by the first day of school to attend preschool.

Our preschool program focuses on helping young children learn about living in a community through personal relationships with peers of different ages, abilities, strengths, struggles, and interests. Our teachers create an environment that supports positive social interactions and relationships.

Our program is designed to focus on the whole child, and our teachers document each child’s progress in areas such as faith formation, cognitive and physical growth and abilities, and their social-emotional well-being. Play is an important part of our preschool program. It inspires creativity, teaches empathy, encourages language development, independent learning experiences, problem-solving, and prepares children to be lifelong learners. 

Multi-Age Preschool

Children must be three years old by the first day of school to attend preschool.

Foundationally, it is important that young children have experiences to learn about living in community. One way to experience living in community is through personal relationships with peers of different ages, abilities, strengths, struggles, and interests. Teachers structure the environment to support the development of thoughtful, positive social interactions and relationships.

Focusing on the whole child, our highly trained preschool teachers document each child’s individual progress with a portfolio centered on faith formation, cognitive and physical growth and abilities, and their social-emotional well-being. Play is an important part of our preschool program. It inspires creativity, teaches empathy, encourages language development, fosters independent learning experiences, gives students space to solve problems, and prepares them to be lifelong learners. 

Young Fives

This program is designed to meet the needs of children of kindergarten age who could use additional time to strengthen readiness skills, build independence and self-confidence as a learner, and grow emotionally and socially before entering kindergarten.
 
Our curriculum is designed to prepare students for kindergarten with a solid foundation in math and pre-literacy skills as well as creatively expose them to science, social studies, art, and music in a positive, structured environment. The daily routine offers opportunities for individual growth along with developing the skills needed to learn how to work and follow instructions within a group setting.

Spanish Immersion Preschool

Children must be four years old by the first day of school.

In the Spanish Immersion program, students are taught a parallel curriculum and are held to the same standards as their peers in the non-immersion program. Students receive instruction in Spanish and will learn to read, write, and speak in Spanish. Our Spanish Immersion program begins in preschool and continues all the way through high school graduation.

Kindergarten

Must be at least five years old by September 1, 2025.

Grand Rapids Christian Schools Kindergarten program is designed to be a Christ-centered, hands-on, engaging, and child-focused curriculum based on Michigan state standards. Our classroom environment reflects God’s creation, inspiring children to know God’s world, learn from it, and care for it.
 
Building on each child’s natural curiosity, our nurturing staff sets the stage for future success as students become excited about learning, exploring, experimenting, and expanding their friendships. Kindergarten students grow into readers and writers as they learn letters, sounds, and decoding skills. They develop critical thinking skills while learning key math concepts. Art, music, library, physical education, technology, and Spanish round out the curriculum and teach kindergartners how to be engaged members of a community.