Welcome!
Welcome to Messiah Lutheran Preschool! Located on the Westside of Santa Cruz, MLP offers up to five and a half hours a day of imaginative, semi-structured early childhood education.
Our Philosophy
We believe that children are unique human beings with their own individual ways of learning. In support of this belief, we provide natural materials and a well-prepared, responsive environment which emphasizes a child’s own experimentation, self-direction and self-expression. We give the children free choice of curriculum ideas throughout the day. Developmentally appropriate activity areas include block building, art, storytime, writing, science, fantasy, manipulatives, carpentry, large muscle play, singing and dancing, and cooking. Structured areas of our school day involve snack and group time. We offer a social skills based program which is not highly academic. It is our firm belief that the early years of a child’s life are the most important regarding their development. It is our desire to help our children establish healthy self-concepts and social skills so they are equipped with a good foundation for future learning.
OUR Program
Messiah Lutheran Preschool has a very flexible approach to scheduling. We have some basic guidelines around which we structure attendance but are otherwise happy to work with each family to determine a routine that fits their needs. Here is our general guidelines:
| Maximum hours per day | 8:30 am – 2 pm |
| Minimum hours per day | 9 am – 12 pm |
| Maximum days per week | 5 days |
| Minimum days per week | 2 days |
All of the children are with us during the core portion of the day—9am to noon—on the days they attend. Some children stay for the maximum preschool day—8am to 2pm—while other families choose a different schedule that works for them. Children must attend a minimum of two days a week, but after that we can often be flexible about whether your child attends three, four, or five days a week.
The prekindergarten session is designed for older preschoolers (minimum age 3 years 10 months by September) who are in their last year before starting kindergarten. Enrollment in the pre-K program is subject to recommendation by the director.
Our facility is licensed for 24 children at one time, ages 2 through 5 years. At all times, we maintain a maximum child/teacher ratio of 8-1, children to staff.
Important Dates
| August | First Day of Fall Program |
| September | Labor Day Holiday |
| Family Dinner at Trescony Park | |
| November | Veteran's Day Holiday |
| Thanksgiving Holiday | |
| December | MLC/MLP Live Nativity |
| Christmas Break | |
| January | M.L.K. B-Day Holiday |
| MLC/MLP Family Movie Night | |
| February | Lincoln's B-Day Holiday |
| President's Day Holiday | |
| March | Parent/Staff Beautification Brunch |
| April | Easter Break |
| May | MLP/MLC Spring Carnival |
| Memorial Day Holiday | |
| End of regular school year | |
| June-July | Limited summer schedule |
Note: Exact dates will be communicated in monthly newsletters.
OUR SPACE
Entrance
We are fortunate that our preschool is nestled in the lovely Messiah Lutheran Church campus. To reach the preschool, follow the curved path past the newly landscaped garden and little library. Our door overlooks the church courtyard, including a patio, grassy field and small stream.
Inside
The preschool itself takes place in a large, cozy, sunlit room, which is subdivided into smaller activity zones. A reading couch, an “alone zone,” a sharing rug, cubbies for backpacks, child-sized tables with rotating activities, and a fantasy area for imaginative play. The theme of the fantasy area changes every month; one month it will be a supermarket with shelves stocked and child-sized shopping carts, next it could be a gym, a veterinary hospital, a restaurant, a camp site, you name it.
Outdoor space
Behind our classroom is a fenced outdoor space designated for the preschool. We have a big sandbox, multiple play structures, beds for digging and gardening, and even a biking area complete with our own fleet of tricycles.
Tuition
Please call Gretchen at (831) 458-1498 for current rates and availability.
Tuition is billed on a monthly basis and our fees are not pro-rated for vacations, illnesses, missed school days or holidays.
Our History
In 1983, Messiah established its preschool in response to the need of quality childcare for the working parent and to share the congregations’s faith in Jesus with the community. A Pre-K program was added in 1986 in order to assist 4 and 5 year olds in preparing for Kindergarten.
Testimonials
Messiah Lutheran Preschool is a hidden gem. Our son has loved every moment from the first day he walked in the door as a painfully shy two year old. The level of care that Gretchen puts into every aspect of the space and education is really unbelievable. She also just totally "gets" what makes each kid unique and works with them on areas where they can use help, whether it's emotional awareness, or learning letters, or peddling a bike. We feel so lucky to have found this nurturing, creative environment for our son and really cannot recommend it highly enough!
Madeleine F
MLP is a terrific preschool. Our son is so excited in the mornings that he runs from the car to the front door. The teachers have decades of experience and find the perfect balance of play and structured activity. I regularly talk to people who have grown children who attended MLP with Gretchen 20 or more years ago. The facilities are bright and open, safe, and the activity areas change on a regular basis. I highly recommend MLP.
George B
Contact
801 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 458-1498
gretchenthigpen@gmail.com
Facility #440702994