Dear First Pres. Preschool Families,
Welcome to the brand new school year!
Whether your family is joining us for the first time or returning for another wonderful year, we are grateful that you are part of our First Pres. Preschool family. Thank you for trusting us with your child's early childhood education. It is a privilege we never take for granted.
While our classrooms, playgrounds, and activities are important, it's really the relationships we build with children, families, and one another that make our preschool feel like home.
This year, our theme is Building Our Village, because we believe children thrive when they are surrounded by caring adults who work together to support their growth. Raising young children was never meant to be done alone. It takes all of us: families, teachers, and our preschool community, working together to help children feel safe, confident, curious, and deeply loved.
We are grateful for many things and for countless people who make it possible for our village to be here. First and foremost, we thank First Presbyterian Church for being our home and for building our village. First Presbyterian Preschool has served the children and families of our Sarasota community since 1947, when Sarasota didn't yet have a kindergarten. Nearly eighty years ago, the church saw a need and opened its doors, creating a safe and loving place where young children could learn, play, and grow. What began as a small but important ministry has become a lasting part of our community and the lives of generations of families.
We are deeply grateful to the church for believing in children and families then, and for continuing to believe in them today. Because of that vision and generosity, First Presbyterian Preschool has had the privilege of welcoming thousands of children through our doors, helping them build their first friendships, discover the joy of learning, and take their first steps into the wider world. We are honored to carry that legacy forward.
Before welcoming your children back to school this year, our staff gathered for our back-to-school in-service training. Together, we explored this year's theme, Building Our Village: Relationships at the Heart of Our Work. We reflected on the four relationships that support every child in the classroom: teacher and child, child and child, child and their environment, and teacher and family. These relationships are the foundation for everything we do and the heart of every meaningful preschool experience.
Over the past week, we've already begun building those connections through Orientation, our Boo Hoo-Yahoo Breakfast (a heartfelt and enormous thank you to our Preschool Board members, Lauren Bridges, Lynn-de Smuts, and Shelley Watson, and our brand new Director of Christian Education, Tim Walsh, for helping make it such a special morning), and our first days together on our beautiful campus and in the classrooms. Watching children walk through our doors with excitement, courage, and wonder is always one of the greatest gifts of the new school year.
Every day, our teachers greet children with warm smiles, celebrate little victories, comfort big feelings, encourage new friendships, and help each child know they are loved, capable, and important. In the first few weeks of school, they will build relationships with each child and with your family, because we know that all learning takes place in the context of relationships, and children learn best when they feel safe, seen, connected, and valued. Those everyday moments may seem small, but they are the foundation for everything else children learn.
Throughout the year, you'll see this partnership reflected in many ways. Our classroom whiteboards will give you a glimpse into what your child will be exploring each day. Through Brightwheel, we'll share meaningful moments from your child's day, not just what they did, but what they were discovering and learning. Your child's portfolio will tell the story of their growth throughout the year, celebrating friendships, creativity, confidence, curiosity, and the many milestones that make their preschool journey unique. These are more than communication tools. They help us stay connected, celebrate your child's growth together, and share a little piece of their day with you.
The preschool years are such a short season, and they leave a lasting imprint on a child's heart. During these early years, children begin to discover who they are, how to be a friend, how to solve problems, and how exciting it is to learn something new. We don't take the privilege of being part of that journey lightly, and we are so grateful that you've chosen to share it with us.
Thank you for being part of our village and thank you for allowing us to be part of your family's story.
We are honored to be part of your village, and we look forward to a year filled with learning, laughter, friendships, and joyful memories.
With love and gratitude,
Your First Pres. Preschool Family
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