by Brooke Reynolds

Northview’s Preschool and Kindergarten Program registration may start at 8 a.m. on Jan. 20, but judging by the popularity of it, parents hopeful of signing their kids up should get there at least by the time the doors open at 6 a.m. – or maybe even earlier.

“We’ve had parents in sleeping bags while they’re waiting for registration,” Sandy Agerter, the program’s Director and Northview Church member, said.

The preschool portion of the program has existed at Northview for 15 years, but this is the inaugural year for the kindergarten class. Both Agerter and Courtney Beyers, the kindergarten teacher and a Northview Church attendee, say the program has been well-received by the parents and students alike.

The kindergarten program boasts the fact that the classroom-size ratio is fairly small, with a teacher and a classroom aid tending to only 18 children. The class meets every week day from 8:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., and students also enjoy art and music lessons from teachers who visit once a week. And to allow for a smooth transition to elementary school, the kindergarten program uses the Carmel/Clay Curriculum standards, in addition to a Christian-based curriculum called A Beka.

According to the program website, during every classroom activity – whether it is math, science or PE – there will be a goal of presenting it with Christian focus and values. The students even attend chapel once a week and hear a daily Bible story, along with working in a biblical curriculum.

“I always tell parents to give their child another year of Christian foundation before they go into public schools,” Agerter said. “It’ll be one more year to understand Christ’s love before they won’t hear about it again in public school environment.”

“The children have learned leaps and bounds from their very first day,” Beyers said. “The children are all thriving, and everyone loves to come to school every day.”

To learn more about the program, registration details and tuition costs, visit http://www.northviewschool.us.