Grace Bible Christian Preschool and Kindergarten
Grace Bible Christian Preschool and Kindergarten is a a part-time, half-day preschool and kindergarten program.
Our school is a ministry of Grace Bible Church servicing the community by offering classes for 3, 4, and 5 year old children. The school is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education.
The Preschool and Kindergarten is designed to put our philosophy into practice with a Christian program that is educationally sound. The children learn by interactive instruction. We select and provide learning experiences that are appropriate for the developmental levels of the children. The kinds of manipulative's (activities and toys to aid in the development of large and small muscle control and other early learning skills) provided are blocks, music, housekeeping, science, book corner, and play dough. The interactive nature of the Preschool and Kindergarten experience lays a foundation for the child's enjoyment of learning throughout the later school years, for in our school, learning is fun!
The Philosophy of Grace Bible Christian Preschool and Kindergarten:
- Young children have an incredible capacity for learning.
- Each child is unique, and it is the goal of the Preschool and Kindergarten to encourage each child to become the person God intended him/her to be.
- Young children need boundaries, lovingly set.
- Young children are pliable - a Christian atmosphere at a young age can help them to develop proper attitudes for life.
Grace Bible Christian Preschool & Kindergarten Classes
* Grace Bible Christian Kindergarten, as a Maryland State Department of Education Non-Public Approved School, has permission to remain a half-day program. Promotion to first grade is permissible by Carroll County Public Schools provided children have successfully completed the kindergarten program, even if a child has a fall birthday.
** Differences between our 4 year old preschool and pre-k:
Our 3 day 4 year old preschool class is a social class with a shift toward academics. The skills needed to thrive in Kindergarten art artfully woven into your child's day through hands on activities, song and play. Our goal for these students is they will be able to write their own name, identify the letters of the alphabet (upper and lower case), cut with scissors, as well as progress their large and small motor skills.
Our 5 day PreK class is designed for the child who will be attending Kindergarten the following year. This program will have the same expectations as our 4 year old class, with some variations to keep the class fresh and challenging. This class will offer additional instruction, focusing on language experience in reading and writing as well as offering opportunities to explore through cooking and science experiments.
Grace Bible Preschool & Kindergarten requires a child be 5 years or older by December 31 to be kindergarten age-eligible. These parameters have been applied to the 3 and 4 year old programs as well.
* Registration fees are non-refundable.
Tuition is due the first of each month. A statement will be placed in your child’s tote bag if payment is not received by the 10th of the month.
Paying by Personal Check: Families can write a personal check for their tuition and place it in the lock box located in the lobby by the front entrance to the building. Families may also mail their tuition checks. Please make checks payable to: Grace Bible Preschool & Kindergarten.
Paying Online via Your Bank’s Online Bill Pay Service: Today, most banks offer an online bill payment service; this provides one of the easiest and most effective way to automate your tuition payments. Simply set up an automatic payment to Grace Bible Christian Preschool & Kindergarten for your tuition amount to be paid by the first of each month. Your banking institution will send a check directly to us.
Tuition charged helps pay for the fixed costs of operating the Preschool and Kindergarten. Tuition payments must be kept current for a child to remain in enrollment. There is a non-refundable registration fee due at the time of placement in the school. Further information is available from the office of Grace Bible Christian Preschool & Kindergarten (410) 374-9286 Melissa Rhoads, Director.
* Registration fees are non-refundable.
Tuition is due the first of each month. A statement will be placed in your child’s tote bag if payment is not received by the 10th of the month.
Paying by Personal Check: Families can write a personal check for their tuition and place it in the lock box located in the lobby by the front entrance to the building. Families may also mail their tuition checks. Please make checks payable to: Grace Bible Preschool & Kindergarten.
Paying Online via Your Bank’s Online Bill Pay Service: Today, most banks offer an online bill payment service; this provides one of the easiest and most effective way to automate your tuition payments. Simply set up an automatic payment to Grace Bible Christian Preschool & Kindergarten for your tuition amount to be paid by the first of each month. Your banking institution will send a check directly to us.
Tuition charged helps pay for the fixed costs of operating the Preschool and Kindergarten. Tuition payments must be kept current for a child to remain in enrollment. There is a non-refundable registration fee due at the time of placement in the school. Further information is available from the office of Grace Bible Christian Preschool & Kindergarten (410) 374-9286 Melissa Rhoads, Director.
Registration
Enrollment Forms
- Maryland Health Inventory
- Dental Record (kindergarten only)
Vaccinations:
Maryland School Immunization Regulations (COMAR 10.06.04) require that every child attending school provide proof of having received certain immunizations. Either the child’s physician or the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene must complete this immunization record.
Potty Training:
We require all our students to be potty trained. We realize they may have an occasional accident but we need for them to know how to use the bathroom completely by themselves. Unfortunately, we do not have the facilities or the staffing for changing diapers, Pull Ups, or for transporting a potty chair. We appreciate your understanding of this policy. If you are experiencing difficulty in this area, there are 2 books available through the Carroll County Public Library entitled "Toilet Training in Less Than a Day" by Drs. Nathan H. Azrin and Richard M. Foxx and "Potty Wise" by Gary Ezzo. We personally know families who have had great success by using the methods described in these books.
Potty Training - Search for Toilet Training in Less Than a Day by Nathan Azrin and Richard Foxx, or Potty Wise by Gary Ezzo.
If Carroll County Public Schools:
- Open 1 hour late - Kindergarten, Pre-K & Preschool morning sessions open 1 hour later, but dismiss at regular times. The afternoon sessions follow regularly scheduled times.
- Open 2 hours late -
Morning Kindergarten & Morning Pre-K ...................................10:40 AM - 12:15 PM
Morning Preschool .......................................................................10:50 AM - 12:25 PM
Afternoon Pre-K ...............................................................................1:10 PM - 2:45 PM
Afternoon Preschool .......................................................................1:20 PM - 2:55 PM
- Dismiss early - Afternoon sessions are cancelled.
- Are closed - All classes are cancelled.
Our teachers meet the requirements of the Maryland State Department of Education to teach in non-public Nursery Schools & Kindergarten. Each teacher has a Bachelors Degree and Early Childhood or Elementary training and/or experience. Our entire staff participates in continuing education to further clarify our purposes and refine them to meet the needs of the children entrusted to us.
Melissa Rhoads - Director and Kindergarten Assistant Teacher
In 2015, Melissa started teaching at Grace Bible Christian preschool and kindergarten. In 1992, Melissa graduated from Penn State University with a degree in elementary education. After many odd jobs, getting married, and living in Wyoming for four years, she decided to stay at home while her three children were young. In 2007, Melissa began substitute teaching at Manchester elementary school. She then became an teaching assistant there until God opened the door at Grace Bible Christian Preschool and Kindergarten.
Melissa and her husband, Tom, have been members at Grace Bible Church since 2004. Melissa is the director of the Wednesday night program Youth for Truth and is active in VBS and the drama ministry at GBC.
This year, the Lord provided the opportunity for Melissa to assume the role of director of Grace Bible Preschool and Kindergarten. She is very excited to take this position as well as continue as Kindergarten Assistant.
Chellie Burnham - Assistant teacher
Chellie joined the staff in 2007 as an assistant teacher for the morning 3 & 4 year olds. She and her husband were introduced to the preschool before they became parents! After years of suffering with infertility, friends of theirs prayed with them, “Lord, we just know You are going to bless this couple with children and they will attend Grace Bible Preschool, just like our girls do!” These prayers were answered as the Burnham children were born in ’96, ’98 and ’00 and all 3 attended Grace Bible Preschool. Chellie enjoyed being a Preschool volunteer in the classroom and assisting as a substitute when needed. Before working here, Chellie was a one-to-one assistant in Special Education for Carroll County Public Schools.
Her family joined Grace Bible Church in 2004 and are active as Pioneer Club leaders, choir members, and VBS leaders. Chellie enjoys teaching children to praise God through songs. Her favorite Scripture is “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3: 5-6.
Rosey Canapp - Assistant Teacher
Rosey is the morning PreK assistant and started this position in 2014. Rosey grew up in Baltimore City where she enjoyed playing softball, lacrosse, and babysitting. She graduated from Towson University with a degree in Art/Photography. Rosey met her husband Josh at River Valley Ranch and they were married in 2002. They have two sons, Aiden and Hunter. In her free time, Rosey likes gardening, reading, crafting, and hanging out with her family. Rosey’s favorite Bible verse is 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
Cindy Georg - Assistant Teacher
Before coming on staff in 1997, Cindy substituted at Grace Bible Preschool for 3 years while praying for an opening that would allow her to work with the children at the preschool. After those 3 years of subbing, her prayers were answered and she was hired to work full time in the morning and afternoon 3 year old and 4 year old classes. After several years with those two age groups, the Pre-k opened and Cindy moved from working with the 3’s to working in the afternoon Pre-k and morning 4’s. She enjoyed the fast pace of that schedule until the Lord led her to change her schedule once again. She is currently an assistant teacher in the 4 year old class with Darla Miller. Cindy loves spending time with her family (especially her grandbabies!) and friends, is very active in her church, enjoys leading and teaching Bible studies/classes, looks forward to trips to the beach and cherishes spending time in God’s presence!
Kim Harcus - Preschool Teacher
God has blessed Kim by granting her the opportunity to teach at our school since 1989. She teaches the morning 3 year olds as well as the morning 4 year olds. She is fortunate to have relatives who attend Grace Bible Church and is grateful they informed her of an opening to minister here years ago. She says she could not ask for a more ideal place to work. God graciously gave her this opportunity to serve here, and she is truly thankful for His goodness to her.
Michele Loudermilk - Assistant Teacher
Michele joined the Grace Bible Preschool staff in 2014 as the assistant in the morning 3s class. Her favorite part of being on staff at Grace Bible is being able to teach young children about Jesus, and to give them a foundation for learning how to have a relationship with Him. “Let the little children come to me, and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of God”. Luke 18:16
Darla Miller - Preschool Teacher
Darla graduated from Towson University with a B.S. in Elementary Education. She continued to take graduate classes and became certified in Early Childhood & Elementary Education. She began teaching at Grace Bible Christian Preschool in September of 1996 and continued through May of 2000. At that time she took a short break to stay at home with her two adorable children but returned in September of 2003. She enjoys teaching at Grace Bible and feels the staff is so friendly and supportive. The teachers, assistants, and director get along so well. Darla loves to teach 4 year olds. She is passionate about helping her students learn through work and play. She loves watching her students explore and create at a variety of centers in her classroom. It excites her to watch her students grow throughout the school year.
Darla continues to learn about early childhood. She has been taking several workshops online during her free time. She and her family attend a local church. Darla serves as a council member, a parish committee member, and volunteers with NESAP. Her oldest son is attending UMBC in the fall, and her daughter is a junior at Manchester Valley. One of Darla’s favorite Bible verses is Psalm 103:8, ” The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love.”
Susan Morgan - Kindergarten Teacher
Susan taught for 7 ½ years at Hampstead Elementary before stopping to be a stay at home mom. During that time she kept her hand in teaching at church. In 1997 she substituted for one of our teachers on maternity leave and came back the following Fall as an afternoon 4 year old teacher. In 1998 she added the Kindergarten class to her schedule, and is continuing in that capacity.
She started attending Grace Bible Church with her family when the church was meeting at Therit’s Market in Manchester, MD. God has given her a love for children and a talent for teaching them. She feels blessed to have the opportunity to teach in a Christian atmosphere where she can share with the children the marvels of what God has made, as well as the deepness of His love for them. Susan devotes her time and energies to her job, knowing that she is sowing into little lives the same thing the saints of God, here at Grace Bible, sowed into her life so many years ago.
Cindy Myers - Preschool Teacher
Growing up in Westminster, MD, Cindy is a graduate of Westminster High School and Lebanon Valley College. Following graduation from LVC she taught music for the Carroll County Public School system for 8 years and then began teaching here in 1998. Although exclusively teaching the 3 year olds at the onset, she has not only also taught 4’s, but also helped to design and implement the current Pre-k program. Her present duties consist of teaching the morning Pre-K, the afternoon 3’s and she is responsible for the school’s Music Class that is offered weekly. With her degree in Music Education, music plays a vital role in both her preschool classes, as well.
Cindy is married to her high school sweetheart and has three grown children, who have spread their wings and are now following their dreams across the country. Her desire is to help parents to “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6) by finding those unique traits and qualities that God has placed in each and every child, and to instill in each child that they are uniquely created in and by God, being “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 129:14). One of her favorite scriptures is Psalm 8:2 “From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies to silence the foe and the avenger.”
Vicky Wilmer - Preschool Teacher
Vicky is a graduate of Towson University and received her masters degree from McDaniel College. After teaching at Eldersburg Elementary for 11 years, she became a stay at home mom. During that time she continued to be involved with children and moms through a MOMS Club in Carroll County, Maryland. When her sons were students here at the preschool, she volunteered in their class and saw first-hand how well the staff worked together to provide a loving and God centered environment for the children.
Vicky grew up on the Eastern Shore in Chestertown, MD. College brought her west of the Chesapeake Bay to Towson University where she received her bachelors degree. Her education courses brought her out to Carroll County, where she received her masters degree in reading from McDaniel College. While teaching at Eldersburg Elementary School, she met her husband and moved to Carroll County.
God presented the opportunity for Vicky to become a teacher in the 4 year old program in 2003. She currently teaches pre-K and 3 year olds. She feels truly blessed to be able to teach in a Christian environment. Being able to watch the children grow and develop is such a blessing.
