We are committed to providing high quality, early-childhood education in a warm and nurturing environment.
Westminster Preschool has been an educational outreach program of our church since 1968. Our program is fully licensed by the Iowa Department of Human Services. We offer preschool classes for children ages two, three, and four.
During the school year we partner with Des Moines Public Schools and offer a free, morning, Universal Pre-K class for four-year-old’s who will enter kindergarten the following year.
Through our partnership with parents, staff, and community, our goal is to prepare students to be lifelong learners by giving them the foundational skills they need to succeed in school. Through our program, we hope to set the stage for active parent involvement in their child’s education. Our program is designed to enable the children to reach the following goals:
Discover the joy of learning.
Feel accepted as worthwhile individuals.
Use equipment especially designed for preschool children in developing muscles and coordination.
Play and live happily with other children of the same age in a group setting.
Learn to trust other adults in addition to one’s parents.
Develop intellectual curiosity by having one’s questions answered, by having special visitors, and by taking trips.
Participate in a planned program which promotes the child’s health.
Learn to follow directions for individual and group activity, in a group setting.
Infant room
Our infant room offers care to children who are at least 6 weeks of age, up to one year old. In this classroom we will follow the child’s needs first. The teachers in our infant room provide a loving environment that helps lay the foundation of learning. Our classroom is a place where babies can grow and learn every day by exploring and making new discoveries.
Classes offered:
Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Class tuition: $400 a week
Toddler room coming soon!
Our toddler age program will provide a warm and nurturing environment that allows some of our littlest to explore and learn through play. Class sessions provide hands-on art experiences, songs, early mathematics, social and emotional development, daily outdoor or large motor experiences and language/literacy skills in a developmentally appropriate atmosphere.
This classroom will be open for children over the age of one. Classes offered:
Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Class tuition: $400 a week
Two-year-olds (2 spots available)
Our two-year-old program provides an opportunity for children to play with other children in a warm, nurturing environment and helps ease the transition to preschool. Our play-based environment is designed to provide a welcoming, nurturing and safe indoor and outdoor atmosphere for our students. We focus on helping each child develop a positive self-image while learning how to interact with other children in a group setting. Class sessions provide hands-on art experiences, songs, fingerplays, and stories in a developmentally appropriate atmosphere. Themes are used to help develop social and cognitive skills in the young child.
Class Tuition: $1,220/month
This program is open to any child who will be two years old by September 15. Classes offered:
Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Three-year-olds (10 spots available)
Our three-year-old program follows current best practices in early childhood education and uses the research-based Project Based Learning. The daily schedule provides a balance of teacher-directed small- and large-group activities, center activities, music and movement and gross motor activities. These offerings help develop your child’s physical, social, language and cognitive skills as well as love and curiosity for learning.
The program incorporates learning activities that enhance the socialization of each child. Participation in group activities, taking turns, sharing, taking responsibility for self, interacting appropriately with peers are all important experiences we focus on to help develop the child’s self-esteem, independence and readiness for a more-structured program. Early-learning math, literacy, science, social studies, music, art and fine- and large-muscle development skills are integrated within a thematic approach to learning. Through this approach, children learn about their world in a more connected way, with many opportunities for hands-on exploration and active learning.
Class Tuition: $1,120/month
This program is open to any child who will be three years old by September 15. Full-day and half-day sessions are offered:
Full-Day Class: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Four-year-olds (3 spots available)
Our program is designed to continue the preschool child’s development within a community of learners by emphasizing self-sufficiency, self-control and empathy for others. The program provides a set of foundational skills that correlates with success in kindergarten: oral language and vocabulary development, phonological awareness, comprehension, letter recognition, writing, and number and math concepts. Through themes, children are able to practice and refine social, cognitive, communication and fine and gross motor skills.
Children must be 4 years old by September 15 of the current school year.
Full-Day Class Tuition: $1020/month
Full-Day Class: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Half-Day UPK Class Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m (Aug-May)
Preschool Director
Abby Williams
Hi! My name is Abby and I am the director of Westminster Preschool! I have been in the early childhood education field for over 16 years.
I have taught in multiple different preschools throughout the metro, working with all ages of children. I have also spent time within the Johnston School District working with special needs children.
I grew up in Beaverdale and have lived in Iowa my entire life. I currently reside in Johnston with my daughter and partner. We have a house full of pets, and I like to spend my free time at home with my family.
Parent Forms
Click on: Make a Secure Online Contribution
On the Fund line scroll down to Preschool Supply Fee
FAQ
What do I need to submit for registration? Just the registration paper and the supply fee!*
*Supply fee does not apply to UPK class
How do I submit it? You can scan and email the form to abby@westpres.org, take a picture and email it, mail it, or drop it off!
Is this preschool program school-year only? No! We offer year round care!
I see your hours are 7:30-5:30, does my child have to be there the whole time? No! Those are just our operating hours, unless your child is in a part-time class that has specific hours, you have the flexibility to drop-off and pick-up at a time that works for you! We do typically suggest kiddos be dropped off by 8:30 though so they don’t miss snack and/or the beginning of the instructional time!
Do you do nap time? We do offer a rest time to all age groups! Children who don’t nap are given some quiet activities to do during this time :)