Early Childhood Programs

Preschool (Ages 3-5)

Within a safe, Christ-centered environment, preschool students at Grand Rapids Christian Schools engage with caring teachers who purposefully provide experiences to achieve both developmental and academic goals and position children for future success while respecting the pace of childhood. Students are given the freedom to make choices within an intentional plan of activities that build social and academic skills.

Focusing on the whole child, our highly trained 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.

Child must be at least 3 years old by the first day of school.

Kindergarten
(must be at least 5 years old by September 1, 2019)

Our program is designed to be a Christ-centered, hands-on, engaging curriculum based on the State of Michigan Benchmarks. 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.

Child must be at least 5 years old by September 1, 2019.

Preschool (Ages 3—5)

Within a safe, Christ-centered environment, preschool students at Grand Rapids Christian Schools engage with caring teachers who purposefully provide experiences to achieve both developmental and academic goals and position children for future success while respecting the pace of childhood. Students are given the freedom to make choices within an intentional plan of activities that build social and academic skills.

Focusing on the whole child, our highly trained 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.

Child must be at least 3 years old by the first day of school.

Young Fives (Ages 4 — 5)

This program is designed to meet the needs of children 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.

Curriculum is taught using themes that prepare students with a solid foundation in math and pre-literacy skills as well as creatively expose them to science, art, and music in a positive, structured environment.

Through connected lesson and activity design, our highly qualified teachers support the growth of each student as a whole child—academically, physically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. Reader’s Theater, Biblical concepts through whole group engagement, and field trips are just a few of the experiences offered in Young Fives to help prepare students for a successful transition to kindergarten.

Spanish Immersion
(must be 4 by September 1, 2019)

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. The total immersion program begins in preschool and kindergarten and continues through the 8th grade.  Continued Spanish programming is offered at the high school, including exciting opportunities for travel, internships, and worship.

Enrolling students in Spanish Immersion requires parents to be committed to the Spanish Immersion program at Grand Rapids Christian Schools.

Child must be at least 4 years old by September 1, 2019. 

Kindergarten (must be 5 by September 1, 2019)

Our program is designed to be a Christ-centered, hands-on, engaging curriculum based on the State of Michigan Benchmarks. 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.

Child must be 5 years old by September 1, 2019

Progressive Kindergarten

Because not every child is immediately ready for 5 full days of kindergarten, our Progressive Kindergarten begins the year with a 3-full-day schedule and then transitions to 5 days in January.  This allows children to gradually adjust to the full-time schedule while providing additional time for teachers to review concepts, enrich the curriculum, and help students further develop their reading readiness and other skills.

Child must be 5 years old by September 1, 2019

Spanish Immersion

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. The total immersion program begins in preschool and kindergarten and continues through the 8th grade.  Continued Spanish programming is offered at the high school, including exciting opportunities for travel, internships, and worship.

Enrolling students in Spanish Immersion requires parents to be committed to the Spanish Immersion program at Grand Rapids Christian Schools.

Child must be 5 years old by September 1, 2019

Child must be at least 3 years old by September 1, 2019, or 4 years old by December, 1 2019.

Kindergarten
(must be 5 by September 1, 2019)

Our program is designed to be a Christ-centered, hands-on, engaging curriculum based on the State of Michigan Benchmarks. 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.

Child must be at least 5 years old by September 1, 2019.