Van Dyke Day School is an outreach ministry of Van Dyke United Methodist Church.  Our mission is to share the truth of Jesus Christ with children, parents and families in the community by providing quality full-time childcare and preschool services that meet their physical, spiritual, emotional and educational needs and build strong Christian children and families. 

 

Part-time Preschool
This program runs from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon for children 2 to 4 years of age.  We offer a 3-day (M/W/F) or a 2-day (T/Th) class for 2- and 3-year olds.  Our 4-year old children have the option of a Monday through Friday program from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon or a M/W/F program from 8:45 am to 2:00 pm.   All part-time programs generally follow the same calendar as Hillsborough County public schools and run from August to May.  Children in our 3- and 4-year old classes have the option of extending their preschool morning until 2:00 pm by staying for “lunch bunch” for an additional cost.

 

CURRICULUM
  

All classrooms are center based and blend child-initiated activities with teacher-directed times.  The daily lessons have been developed to allow children to learn through hands-on experiences and center-based activities.  All children attend music once a week and our three- and four-year old children attend chapel once a week.

 

The two-year old classrooms use the WEE Learn Curriculum. It provides a range of age appropriate activities designed to lay a foundation for facilitating spiritual, social/emotional, physical and cognitive growth.  This curriculum integrates Christian education with developmentally appropriate skills and activities.

The three- and four-year old classrooms use a teacher-developed curriculum, which integrates Bible-based themes with developmentally appropriate activities in the areas of language, fine and gross motor, social and cognitive skills.

 

Our elementary after school care program includes a snack and time on the playground when they reach our center after a hard day at school.  A Bible-based curriculum includes stories, activities and games that promote children’s understanding of a God who loves them.  Later in the afternoon, children choose from activities such as arts and crafts, dramatic play and cooperative games.  Homework assistance is provided for those who need it.  During the school year, all of our elementary children participate in a physical activity program one afternoon each week. 

 

STAFF

We are blessed to have a team of dedicated professionals who have the welfare and best interest of the children as their top priority.  Everyone on our staff is required to have the State of Florida 40-hour Introductory Child Care training, 5-hour Early Literacy and Language Development course, with an additional 10 hours of child care related training per year.  All staff has been fingerprinted and has gone through a background screening before beginning work at our school.  The majority of our staff has CPR and First Aid training.  Each classroom has a lead teacher with a Child Development Associate credential or higher.

Child/Teacher Ratios
Van Dyke Day School strives to keep our child/teacher ratios as low as possible.

• Two's
  11 children : 2 teachers

• Threes
  15 children : 2 teachers

• Fours
  18 children : 2 teachers 

SNACK & LUNCHES

Snack is served twice a day at Van Dyke Day School.  We offer snack to all children during the morning preschool hours and again around 3:15 pm for our full-time and elementary children. Lunches are to be provided by the parent as we do not have facilities to heat or keep lunches cold.  We ask that the parent provide a thermos and/or cold pack in their child’s lunch box as needed.  The children eat lunch in their classrooms.