Certified, Christian & Caring

Tanque Verde Lutheran Preschool/Kindergarten is fully certified by the State of Arizona. Our extended programs — Afternoon Enrichment (Kid's Club) and Morning Enrichment (Discovering Dolphins) — are available to allow flexibility for parents. Kid's Club is available from 11:30-2:30, and Morning Enrichment is available 8:30-11:30, Monday through Friday. The ratio of teachers to children ranges from 1:6 in the two-year-old program, to 1:9 for the three-, four- and five-year-old classes.

Our Kindergarten has a cap of 18 children. Our Kindergarten ratio is 1 teacher for 9 children.

We are a Christian program and a ministry of Tanque Verde Lutheran Church (TVLC). We began our program in January 1979. The Preschool/Kindergarten School Board governs us. All members of the Board are also members of the Church. The director, bookkeeper/office manager and one staff person attend the meetings each month as well.

Since preschool is often the child's first experience away from the security of the immediate family, our parents and teachers work closely together to make the transition as smooth as possible. Before school begins each child and parents, too, have the opportunity to have a school visit to meet their teachers. Then, the week before school starts, each class has an open house where parents and children meet their teachers once again and also their new classmates. This is also followed in the Kindergarten.

We follow the TUSD school schedule regarding vacation days. Our children begin school the last week in August (except for Kindergarten), and we conclude the school year the third week in May.

Parents are encouraged to visit and observe the program at any time before enrolling or after their child is in the program. Parents are also invited to attend planned activites. Some of these are the Teddy Bear Picnics, Christmas Chapels, Dads' Brunch, and Muffins with Mom. We include the Kindergarten in these activities and we also add Grandparents Day and a variety of field trips.

Each fall we celebrate with a Fall Fiesta and we welcome spring with a Carnival! These are all school functions and everyone is invited to attend. We ask our parents to help us out by preparing projects, working the booths, etc. Both activities are a fun time for everyone!

In February we celebrate Preschool/Kindergarten Sunday. In the 2011-2012 school year, we will be celebrating our 33rd year as a ministry of the church. The Preschool and Kindergarten children are included in the 11:00 service along with the staff. This is a fun day sharing the Preschool and Kindergarten with the congregation! We have singing, sharing lunch and cake, banners, projects, balloons and lots of fun!

Throughout the year we have a variety of fund raisers to support our scholarship program. This is an excellent opportunity for our parents to participate in our school's activities.

 

PRESCHOOL/KINDERGARTEN SCHOOL BOARD

A five to six member School Board governs the Preschool and Kindergarten.  The members include a Chairperson, Secretary, and 3-4 At-Large Members.  The Director, Office Manager/Bookkeeper, Council Liaison and a Preschool/Kindergarten Staff Representative also attend the meetings.  Its functions is to discuss, advise, receive information, make recommendations and vote on major issues concerning the Preschool/Kindergarten program.  The Director, Officer Manager/Bookkeeper and Staff Representative do not have a vote in decision making.  The School Board is accountable to the Tanque Verde Lutheran Church.  The parents are invited to attend at any time or to bring their questions and concerns to the attention of the Director.