Our Savior's Early Childhood program was established in 1971 as a nurturing and educational program of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Colonie, New York. In response to the Biblical directive to "train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart form it" (Proverbs 22:6), Our Savior's Early Childhood program provides support and assistance to parents in the training and character development of their young children by:

• providing a setting where young children are encouraged to develop an awareness of themselves, of their loving God and of their world.
• offering opportunities for interaction with other young children within the Christian context of acceptance, respect and cooperation.
• developing within each child a positive and eager attitude toward learning that will make him/her more receptive and responsive to future learning experiences.

Program

Our Savior's Early Childhood offerings comprise a rich program of academic and social readiness responsive to the varied needs of the individual child. The basic goals of these planned learning experiences include:

• the encouragement of a sense of value and purpose based on each child's personal relationship to a loving Lord and Savior.
• the expansion of varied thought processes including: classifying, generalizing, planning and evaluating.
• the development and expansion of communication skills
• the encouragement of self expression in music and art
• the development of muscular coordination
• the development of self control, respect and cooperative behavior.

Sessions

Half-day classes are held from 8:30 - 11:30. Full day classes run from 8:30 - 3:00. Before care and extended care are available on per-day basis. See the Tuition page for details and tuition information.

Enrollment
In order to enter the program for three year olds, a child must be three by December 1st of the year in which he/she enters Our Savior's Preschool. This age requirement applies in a similar fashion the children entering the program for four year olds and kindergarten (five year olds.)

Each child must also pay the annual registration fee and submit the required medical forms, including a record of a physical examination and required immunizations.

Parental Involvement
Parents (grandparents and other relatives) are invited to become active participants in the Our Savior's Early Childhood program. They well be invited to serve as a teacher's aide in the three and four year old classrooms on a regularly scheduled basis, or will be asked to provide other forms of assistance throughout the year.

Parent-teacher conferences and special meetings for parents of preschoolers and kindergarteners also encourage close cooperation between the home and school.

Teachers
Capable teachers are a key ingredient to any successful educational venture. Our Savior's Early Childhood program has a staff of three teachers and one assistant.  All the teachers are graduates of a four year teachers college and have extensive classroom experience working with young children. These teachers have demonstrated competence, creativity and a loving concern for children.

Facilities
Our Savior's Early Childhood program occupies three large and well equipped classrooms within Our Savior's Lutheran School. Additional rooms are available for small group instruction and project work. Our kindergarten and preschool children also have access to the school library, an indoor playroom and a large outdoor playground.

Our Savior's Lutheran School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origins in the administration of its admission policies or other educational policies.

Contact Information
For more information about Our Savior's Early Childhood program, call 518-459-2273.