Summary
Contact Info
First United Methodist Friends in Christ Preschool
7659 Preston Road
Frisco
, TX
75034
www.friscofumc.org/friendsinchrist
Tel:
(972) 337-3907
Fax:
(972) 377-2147
Director:
Patti Eubank
PAEUBANK@yahoo.com
General Approach to Learning
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| Play-based with some structure |
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Predominantly teacher-led instruction |
Application Information
| Applications accepted |
After a face-to-face meeting at the school |
Key Statistics
| Student/teacher ratio |
12:1 |
| School year |
08/2008 - 05/2009 |
Kindergarten Placement
Parent Ratings
| Parents at this school would recommend this school to other parents. |
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| Quality of teaching |
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| Development of social skills and work habits |
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| Home-school connection |
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| Parent community |
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| Discipline |
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| Facilities |
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| Health |
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| Safety |
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| Handling of separation |
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Survey Information
Number of parents surveyed:
34
Director survey: Yes
Savvy Source survey: Yes
General Info
Basic Stats
| Student/teacher ratio |
12:1
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% of teachers with:
| - Teaching credentials |
30%
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Transportation and Drop-off Policies
Transportation
Dropoff Procedure
Features of the Preschool
| Provide a third year |
Yes
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| • Our goal is to help each child become as prepared for kindergarten as possible. We stress kindness and cooperation as students explore concepts and develop new skills. |
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| Provide a kindergarten and elementary school program |
Yes
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| Affiliated with a religious institution |
Yes
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| Teach religious concepts |
Yes
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| Some experience serving children with special needs |
No
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Accreditation, Membership & Awards
| Accreditation by the National Association of Young Children |
No
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Facilities
| CONDITION OF FACILITIES RATING (4.1) |
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| Building, bathrooms, hallway |
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| Classroom equipment and furniture |
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| Outside play equipment |
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Facilities Include:
| Classrooms (with bathroom attached) |
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| Classrooms (with kitchenette attached) |
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| Music room |
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Spanish Room, Gymnasium, Chapel
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Playground
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Parents' Comments
Parent #1
Teachers have communicated well and handled all issues quite well. The director knows many of the kids by name...and knows a lot of the parents as well.
Parent #2
I have been very satisfied with Friends in Christ Preschool. Both of my boys enjoy it and I have recommended it to several other moms.
Parent #3
The school has made a significant difference in my 4 year old. He loves going to school and is learning new skills daily. I have not seen my child this happy in any other preschool. The teachers make them feel secure and loved.
Parent #4
I believe this is a great school to introduce children to a more structured school-like environment for the first time. If a parent is looking for strong educational emphasis, this is not the program for them. My child has thoroughly enjoyed her time here so far, and the school has provided what I needed for her first year of pre-school: introduction to a fun school environmentthat allows her to learn a little but have a good time.
Parent #5
I AM SO HAPPY WITH THIS PRESCHOOL...I THINK THE COMBINATION OF PRICE, STAFF, AND CURRICULUM MAKE THIS A GREAT SCHOOL......THEY ONLY USE POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT FOR DISCIPLINE
Parent #6
I am impressed with the disciplinary system the teacher had in place. She moves their clip from green to yellow and then to red if they misbehave. It works well for my daughter who is determined to be good and stay on green.
Parent #7
This school is a great environment for every child and it's more like a whole family than different people; the learning is great and the staff is great
Parent #8
I made an error on the application and that caused my daughter to be inappropriately placed. I caught the mistake during parent orientation and the director quickly fixed the problem. She could have said 'too full, too bad', but they left room for adjustments in placement which is very important and appreciated.
Parent #9
The incredibly low student teacher ratio is one of the major strengths of this program. The teachers are patient, caring & loving, which is extremely important in preschool. Teachers help children to resolve conflict on their own with guidance and discipline is primarily redirecting and time-out when necessary.
Parent #10
This school encourages basic social and academic learning.
Parent #11
Communication through email.
Parent #12
I think some of the classrooms are too hot. I also think they should not make the Pre K kids take a nap for more than 20 minutes. I think teachers stretch it to one hour. Also parents are expected to volunteer for nap time. I feel the school charges enough tuition to hire more staff. Both of my children's classes have one teacher. I feel they need two.
Parent #13
I believe the strengths of this preschool are its tradition in the community, which allows for its good reputationand quality of staff and students. There is a defined curriuclum for each level of preschool-even the 1 year olds. Each class is, therefore, on the same page and doing the same thing. It does not allow a lot of room for teacher individuality, which can be both good and bad. It is a very traditional learing environment. The children do take Spanish, Music, Chapel, and Movement. The teachers and staff are very caring. The teacher provides daily updates on things learned at school: if the children rested, how much they ate of their lunch, and any behavior problems that they might have encountered.
School Philosophy & Day in the Life
School Philosophy and Mission
We want to provide a safe, happy, place for your child to experience his or her first adventures outside the family circle. We want children to learn that the world is an exciting, interesting place. Through creative play, books, songs and interactions with teachers and other children, we want to help your child grow in body and spirit.
Typical Day-In-The-Life At This School
9:00-9:30-Arrival/Free Play
9:30-Circle Time
10:00-Chapel or Spanish or Sign Language
10:30-Art or Science Activity
11:00-Snack
11:00-Recess
12:00-Lunch
12:30-Restroom/Rest
1:00-Instruction/Storytime
1:45-Music or movement
2:15-Prepare to go home
Quality of Teaching
Teachers Are:
| OVERALL RATING: (4.8) |
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| Full of energy and seemingly happy in job |
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| Patient and affectionate with children |
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| Talks with children and listens carefully when they are talking with him/her |
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| Praises children for accomplishments and good behavior |
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| Provides feedback on what my child does during the day |
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| Shares insights on my child that are helpful and accurate |
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| Identifies my child’s strengths and weaknesses |
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| If necessary, provides additional support to my child during pickup and drop-off |
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| Resolves disputes quickly, calmly and fairly in a manner that allows children to learn from the dispute |
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| Notices children who are not on task and/or engaging with other children appropriately and quickly reengages them |
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| Manages the energy level of the children so that all children feel safe and able to learn |
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| Provides additional support to a child when s/he is clearly failing in her/his efforts |
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| Strikes the proper balance between active and quiet play for children |
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Director's Comments on Individualized Teaching
Individualized Teaching
Description of how teachers work with children who are
"behind," "excelling" or "different" from the majority of students
Teachers individualize instruction to meet the needs of each child. Parents are offered ways to supplement their child's learning at home as well. Activites are designed to let each child create and learn at his/her own ability level.
Parents' Comments
Parent #1
I wish we had an email listing where we received notices via email and could communicate via email.
Parent #2
Our school has Spanish for the children a few times a week (depending on the number of days attended). Also, all of our teachers (pre-k) are certified teachers or have extensive early childhood experience.
Parent #3
Some questions in part one, I feel I can not answer because I am not in the classroom with the teacher.
Parent #4
I'm thrilled that our school also has wonderful Movement, Spanish & Music teachers. They know all the children by name and seem to make an extra effort to keep the classes interesting and different.
Parent #5
I like the use of the gym for days when the playground is not an option for gross motor development.
Parent #6
My kids always seems to love the teachers from their classes outside of their classroom as well (Spanish, music, movement). Overall, I think FIC does a great job of hiring teachers who really love to be around kids. My only issue with the teaching staff is this year my older child's teacher changed after a couple days of school. Then, she spent 2 weeks with a substitute and then had to get used to a new teacher. This was an issue for me since my child has problems acclimating at the beginning of the school year. The classroom wasn't as organized as it could have been during that time.
Parent #7
Something that makes this school a good one is the fact that not only they have Spanish class but music and movement so that the kid is never bored and gets to try different things while learning at the same time. I wish they had computers for kids to learn more but after all we have it at home and that's something we're ok with.
Parent #8
All the years that my kids have gone to FIC, we have never been disappointed with a teacher.
Parent #9
My child loves the Spanish classes and has really learned a lot in it. I wish the school had a separate art class like they do with music, spanish and movement.
Parent #10
This is our third year at FIC Preschool. We have been so pleased with the enthusiasm from each of our teachers. We have creative movement, music and Spanish. We have not had teacher consistency from year to year for our extra programs, which has been a slight disappointment.
Home School Connection
Home-School Connection
| OVERALL RATING (4.1) |
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| Conducts an open house at start of school year |
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| Conducts a parent-teacher meeting at start of school year |
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| Conducts regular parent teacher conferences |
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| Provides summary of child’s learning at end of year |
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| Provides guidance on developmental goals for the following year |
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| Provides guidance on best Kindergarten and elementary schools |
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Director's Comments
At the beginning of the year, two separate open houses are held, one just for parents, the other for parents and children. Parents are given Daily Notes about what has happened at school that day. This includes activites, how much lunch was eaten, if a child slept or just rested, the child's position on the behavior chart, and reminders for the following class. Students are given "homework" assignments to work on with their parents. Conferences are held two times per year and parents are always welcome to talk to the teacher regarding their children's progress-socially and academically. Their are many events and activites held througout the year to encourage a cohesive school community.
Separation
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Pre-entry meetings with parents at school
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Extra staff dedicated to handle separation
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Parents in classroom early on
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Director's and Parents' Comments
Parents' Comments
Parent #1
Some of these were not applicable as it is not the 'end of the school year.'
Parent #2
My son has not graduated from the school yet; therefore, this year we will know whether or not the school actively advises what elementary school program he should be involved in.
Parent #3
Parent Community functions mostly within each class individually.
Parent #4
This is our first year at this school so I may not be aware of all the things the school does for the parent connections and I certainly do not know about the end of year process.
Parent #5
I have had different experiences each year with separation and my childrens' classrooms. It really depends on the teacher as far as I'm concerned. If need be I have contacted the school director and she sees to it that there is a specific plan in place for separation.
Parent #6
First United Methodist is a very caring and loving atmosphere. From the Director to all the teachers, my daughter has always felt the attention and love she needed when I wasn't there. The staff is very well trained and the curriculum is great, the child learns a lot, especially the best part is that they have Spanish lessons. My daughter is just so happy to be a part of it and cannot wait for another day to go back to school and meet her friends and teacher again. Every day is a good one for her and this tells me a lot about it because I've had some experience with other schools and I truly believe that this one is just a great one. Some of the answers I gave like end of school related, I hadn't dealt with those yet because we left a little earlier to go on vacation last school season and for kindergarden we haven't been in that process yet since it'll be next school season as well.
Parent #7
Since this is my child's first year, I am not aware of what will be handed out at the end of the year regarding summaries on what she learned, etc.
Parent #8
We are new this year so I answered the year-end questions based on my assumptions. The question about parent orientation should have included an option that we met on school specifics but did not have adequate classroom parent/teacher introductions.
Parent #9
FIC is very open and receptive to parents. There is not a formal parents organization.
Parent #10
This is our first year, and so I do not have actual answers for the end of year questions. I guessed what they would be based on observations of preocedures thus far.
Parent Community
| COHESIVENESS RATING (3.0) |
Parents:
Modes of Communication Between School and Home
Discipline, Health and Safety
Discipline
| OVERALL RATING (4.3) |
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| Parents at this school, on average, believe that conflicts between children:
are handled extraordinarily well in a way that not only gives me confidence in the safety of my child but also reassures me that my child (and his/her peers) are learning the early skills needed to socialize effectively with one another
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Overview
Director's Description of Approach Toward Discipline
Positive reinforcement and redirection with time-out when needed. Classrooms have a stop-light system, where each child is given a clip with their name on it. If after redirection the inappropriate behavior continues, the student must move their clip from green light to yellow light. If another infraction occurs the clip moves to red light and a time-out occurs.
Parents' Notes on Discipline, Health and Safety
Parents' Comments
Parent #1
The biggest concern I have about this school is the ability for people to walk in and out without discretion. Also, the hallways are too tight for people to pick up their kids because they have crates in the hallways used for carrying items to and from school. Discipline is consistent in all classrooms, as they all follow a red light, yellow light, green light clothes pin behavior system. They alert all staff to food allergies by posting notes outside doors of each room. They have a walkie-talkie system to notify aides of students who need special assistance or teachers who need help.
Parent #2
I have not witnessed the conflict resolution process and my child has not had a conflict with another child (to my knowledge). While I have never seen anyone cleaning, the school always looks and smells clean. I do have a concern about the number of rooms that have a ban for food allergies. It really limits the nutritional options of the other children and seems excessive. I think the children with such specific and severe allergies should be grouped together for the benefit of everyone. The snacks could be more nutritious with LESS SUGAR.
Parent #3
The only suggestion I have is that an incident report be provided to a parent when their child gets hurt (I'm not sure if the school has that policy or not)
Parent #4
They are about to build new buildings for the education. The building we have is fine, but could be better.
Health
| OVERALL RATING (4.4) |
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| Temperature and overall air circulation is comfortable |
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| Healthy and nutritious snacks are provided
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| Toys and furniture are cleaned regularly |
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Food Allergies
Medications
Safety
| OVERALL RATING (4.4) |
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| Screen and identify all visitors
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| Parents may not bring sick children to school where they may infect others |
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Kindergarten Placement & Tips
Parents' Admission Tips
Advice from Parents to Prospective Parents on Admissions
Parent #1
Enrolled and toured the school in March. Since they had added classrooms, we were able to get in.
Parent #2
No, I don't have any advice.
Parent #3
No, I don't have any advice.
Parent #4
I am a member of the church.
Parent #5
No, I don't have any advice.
Parent #6
Early application
Parent #7
The admissions process here is a lottery, so aside from being a member of the church (first preference), there is not much you can do.
Parent #8
Not really, my daughter was on a waiting list
Parent #9
No, I don't have any advice.
Parent #10
Not really.
Parent #11
Gaining admission was not difficult for us.
Parent #12
No, I don't have any advice.
Parent #13
We are members of the church.
Parent #14
No. I was put on the waiting list and a spot became available.
Parent #15
We joined the church.
