On behalf of Peace Lutheran's Board of Early Childhood, I wanted to take a moment to share with you the various ministries we've been involved in at our school's location. Two of these ministries began just last year. Our board's umbrella covers three ministries (Sunday Bible Club, V.B.S. & Nursery Care) located at our church, and four ministries (Preschool, Child-Care, Latchkey, & Summer Care) located at our school. Child-Care (Sept. 2007) & Summer Care (2008) being our newest ministries. We've captured some photos on the back of this page of the faces of our children and teachers, located at our school. This July 2009, will be my 5th year at Peace. By far, my favorite moments have been working with the many children and families I've grown to love, and also working alongside the most dedicated staff, I've ever known. Your early childhood staff, (now 12 strong) have faithfully shared their God-given best with this early childhood ministry … and it's shown.

Our school's preschool ministry for three and four year old aged children, is lovingly taught by Susan Williams (3 year Tu. & Th.) & Janel Pittman (4 year Mon., Wed., Fri.). We are blessed to have these two special women teaching our youngest about Jesus everyday, among many other areas, such as math, phonics, science & handwriting. The "constant" of this program is our classroom aid, Tammy Kelly. She works with both Susan & Janel, five days a week. This team of three, does quality ministry for Peace with the humblest of spirits and joyous of hearts. Our school's child-care ministry (31 mo. - 5 yrs.) opened September 2007. We hired two new employees, at that time, to upstart this new ministry. Nicole Ertman & Melissa Baumann are the "faces of child-care". Their enthusiasm and love have made this new ministry seem like it's been here for always. You feel at home within minutes of entering that classroom. You just do. And our numbers show it. Recently, we were in a position to hire two classroom aids to assist in this room. They are Carol Harris & Leigh Zolton. Again, two dynamic Christian women, who will only make this new, exciting ministry shine brighter for Him.

Our school's latchkey ministry has grown significantly in number. That's no coincidence. Sheila Wazny has been a wonderful asset to this program since her arrival 3 years ago. Her aids are Geraldine Thompson and Judy Leidlein. Both these women add a "grandmother feel" to the program that the children love. Their team of three strong, mother the children when they are tired in the morning, & rambunctious in the afternoon … and they do it with love each day. Lastly, at our school's location is our "Summer Care" ministry, which we began the summer of 2008. Sheila Wazny is our Summer Care manager. This year we hope to be in the position to hire an aid for Sheila. The parents, whose children attended this program, were positively thrilled that we had enough children to start it. We are confident that this summer the numbers will be even stronger. It's a much-needed ministry, in this day & age, of two-working parents. In closing, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention my assistant, Linda Wilke. Linda works tirelessly in our school's office doing all the billings for our various programs, typing, answering of phone calls, filing, and really anything to help my life go more smoothly at work. She's the "silent steel behind the wheel" and she is a gift to Peace … and to me.

During March, National Lutheran School's Week, is celebrated. Our entire school will have an "Open House" on March 1. Come visit our facility and shake the hands of the people you've prayed for. Your faithful prayers and support of our work, makes an eternal difference, in the lives of the children we serve. Thank you for entrusting your early childhood ministries to me, and to this board. It's a blessing to serve these children, alongside, the "Best of the Best".

In His Service,
Deborah Hauser

Peace Lutheran's Early Childhood Board

Early Childhood Director
Susan Fjerstad

Jenny Loree

Linda Wilke

Kathleen Ehlert

Sheila Wazny

Jodi Hagenbach

Janis Thom

Peace Lutheran's Sunday Bible Club:

Peace Lutheran Church offers Sunday Bible Club to children ranging in age from 3 years through 5th grade. It is run by various adult volunteers who have a calling to share Jesus with young children. This program is offered on Sundays from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. It runs from September through May of each year. Within the hour that the children are with us, we offer a Bible story, Jesus music, a snack and a corresponding craft to the Bible lesson. This hour flies by for the children and the staff. Sunday Bible Club, is structured as a mini Vacation Bible School, each week. The children just love it!

Click Here to visit the SBC Website!

Peace Lutheran's Child-Care Program:

Peace Lutheran's Child-Care program is licensed under the state of Michigan. Our one committed room to this ministry, located within our school, is licensed for preschool-aged children, ranging in age from 31 months through 5 years of age. We are open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. Our morning schedule concentrates on subjects such as Jesus time (www.concordiapublishinghouse.com), music, reading & math (www.abeka.com), and handwriting. Our afternoon schedule includes a rest time, center time, and science. This ministry offers working parents a safe, second-home for their children, while they are at their places of work. Our child-care staff is devoted to helping working parents raise children who know their Savior and much more.

Peace Lutheran's Latchkey Program:

Peace Lutheran's Latchkey program is a licensed 'before & after' school care program under the state of Michigan. It offers care to children between the ages of 5 years and 12 years of age. It is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and again from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. This ministry cares for children with working parents, for a very affordable cost. We offer an afternoon snack for our children, outside play or gym play time, crafts and homework time. Our dedicated staff seeks to keep our children safe and content until their parents arrive to pick them up.

Peace Lutheran's Nursery Care program:

Peace Lutheran Church offers nursery care to children ranging from newborn through 36 months old. This ministry serves families with very young children, who want to worship, while having a safe place for their young child during the service time. Our care-givers are located at the church from 9:30 a.m. through 12:30 p.m. each Sunday from September through May. During the summer (June, July & August) this ministry moves to our school campus where our summer worship is held. Our care-givers are then at our school location each Sunday, from 9:30 a.m. until that service ends.

Peace Lutheran Preschool Program:

Peace Lutheran School offers licensed preschool for children who turn three by September 1 or who turn four by September 1. Both programs offer strong spiritual opportunities for children to receive Jesus into their young hearts. The Holy Spirit works through the various songs we teach, the Bible stories we share (www.concordiapublishinghouse.com) and the art projects we complete. Both programs also have a strong academic component. We currently use the A Beka program - www.abeka.com - (a Christian curriculum) to teach reading and math. We, of course, offer opportunities for the children to socialize through play and large gross motor skill development. Peace's preschool program, for children in their third and fourth year of life, is spiritually strong, academically appropriate and socially intentional. Our staff is dedicated to protecting our children's childhood for the years we are privileged to serve them.

Peace Lutheran's Summer Care Program:

Peace Lutheran's Summer Care program is a state licensed child- care program for children ranging in age from 5 to 12 years. It is a summer program only. It typically runs through the months of June, July & August. It is also located in our school. It is open Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. The families who use this program are working families who need a safe place for their children, during the summer months, when school is not in session. This program offers Jesus time everyday along with various crafts and outside activities. We also offer a computer time each week to keep their skills sharp over the summer. We also have a teacher who comes to our school to offer tutoring during these hours (for those children who may need that) and another teacher who offers piano lessons to the children over the summer. This ministry was generated from our latchkey families. Our committed staff, enjoys the summer hours with these children, when life is a little less hectic.

Peace Lutheran's Vacation Bible School:

Peace Lutheran Church offers a Vacation Bible School ministry every June for the children of their church, school & community. This ministry is run by adult & teenage volunteers, who desire to share Jesus, with young children. Vacation Bible School is offered to children ranging in age from 3 years through 5th grade. It is usually held in mid-June and runs for one week … Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. It includes activities such as Bible story time, craft time, outside activity time, music time, and a daily snack. Peace's Vacation Bible School averages 200 participants a day, who learn about their Savior's love for them, through His holy Word.