Benson Memorial UMC
PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN PREP
Benson Memorial UMC
PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN PREP
ABOUT OUR PRESCHOOL
Overview
The Benson Memorial United Methodist Church Preschool and Kindergarten Preparation Program has been serving children and families in Raleigh, NC, for over 50 years. We offer a school-year program, a summer program, a parent-led playgroup, and drop-in care for childrens ages 1 through 7. Our preschool staff are committed to providing an effective program which takes into account and provides for the emotional and educational needs of young children. We make every effort to enhance each child’s self-knowledge, self-esteem, and inner discipline. Our preschool is a safe and secure environment where children are encouraged to be social, independent, and creative.
Winner of the 2021 WRAL Voters' Choice Award
Among thousands of nominees, our very own Benson Memorial UMC Preschool won the WRAL Voters' Choice Award for Best Preschool! Congratulations to our Preschool Team who provides an excellent educational experience to the children enrolled, and thank you to all the voters who made this recognition possible.
Shannon Luxford, Director of Preschool
Our Director, Shannon Luxford, has been with the preschool since 2000. Shannon earned her BS in Child Development from Meredith College. Her varied experiences in the field of early childhood include positions serving students with a wide variety of needs. Shannon lives in Cary. Her sons attended the preschool.
Hours Open and Contact Information
Hours: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Monday through Friday
Phone: 919-781-3310
Email: preschooldirector@bensonmemorialumc.org
Facebook: /BensonMemorialUMCPreschoolRaleighNC27612
We also offer tours by appointment. Please contact us to schedule a time for your family to come and tour the
campus.
Now Registering for the 2023–2024 School Year!
We have openings for older fours and transition students (M–F).
We also have todler openings (M–F).
To enhance our curriculum we offer a variety of enrichment programs:
Music Class
Each week, all students attend music class. In music class, students are introduced to basic music appreciation involving an understanding of the elements of music, musical forms, musical styles, and the enjoyment of participating in class.
Spanish Class
Five-day students three and older participate in Spanish. They are introduced to greetings, family members, body parts, numbers, colors, common everyday items, days of the week, and much more.
STEM Class
Students in the threes class and older will participate in this hands-on class covering topics such as sinking and floating, life cycles, static electricity, and others in a small-group environment.
Chapel
Chapel is a time to share stories from the Bible that will enrich children from any religious or non-religious background. Our intention is for each of our students to know they are loved by God and Christ without any judgment.
Letterland/Literacy
Students will participate in a literacy enrichment activity designed to expand the literacy curriculum beyond the classroom.
Movement Class
This is a gross motor activity class. Students in the threes class and older will enjoy activities such as parachute games, ribbon stick dances, scarf dances, and obstacle courses, just to name a few.
Occasional Programs
Occasionally, on-campus visitors will also be scheduled. We like to have the NC Museum of History teach about times past, and the Raleigh Parks and Recreation staff teach about native flora and fauna, just to mention a few.
Field Trips
Parents of children enrolled in the four-year-old program and transition class should expect field trips. There are typically four to six field trips planned in a calendar year.
WHAT WE TEACH
We practice a child-centered, emergent curriculum, providing intentional, meaningful learning experiences, with a strong focus on literacy. Our curriculum addresses the following developmental domains: social/emotional development, physical development, cognitive development, language development, and communication skills.
We use Foundations: Early Learning Standards for North Carolina Preschoolers and Strategies for Guiding Their Success to determine age-appropriate goals and objectives for our students. This publication provides early learning standards and expectations for developmentally appropriate practice. Foundations is a guide for teachers, administrators, families, or any adult working with preschool children in North Carolina.
We incorporate strategies from Dr. Becky Bailey’s Conscious Discipline into our curriculum. Conscious Discipline is a comprehensive classroom management program and a social/emotional curriculum. Our staff members received ongoing Conscious Discipline training.
Many of our teachers have also been trained in Handwriting Without Tears, which they skillfully integrate into our curriculum. Handwriting Without Tears is a developmentally-based handwriting program. Our program offers students the ideal foundation for kindergarten and the Letterland phonics program offered by the WCPSS.
ENROLL YOUR CHILD
We accept children ages 1 through 7.
We have different levels of tuition based on the number of days you choose to have your child enrolled during the week. For a complete breakdown of tuition and fees, please download our 2022-2023 Preschool Registration Packet. In it, you will find not only information on how to register, but also details about our curriculum and enrichment programs, policies, enrollment forms, and much more.
Please download our 2022-2023 Preschool Registration Packet first. Read carefully through the policies and information, fill out the forms in the packet, and return the filled in, signed copies to our preschool office. The mailing address is Benson Memorial UMC Preschool, 4706 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh, NC 27612. If you have any questions, please call our preschool director, Shannon Luxford, at 919-781-3310.
If you have any questions or need further assistance with the registration process, please contact Preschool Director Shannon Luxford at 919-781-3310. You may reach Shannon outside of school hours at 919-906-5353. Email Shannon at preschooldirector@bensonmemorialumc.org.
Please call the preschool office at 919-781-3310 or email Shannon Luxford, our preschool director, at preschooldirector@bensonmemorialumc.org.
SCHOOL CALENDAR
Our 2023-2024 school year runs from Tuesday, September 5, 2023, through Friday, May 17, 2024. Though our calendar may share some similarities, we do not follow the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) calendar.
2023
July
4-6 No Classes
11-13 Summer Session
18-20 Summer Session
25-27 Summer Session
August
1-3 Summer Session
8-10 Summer Session (End of Summer Classes)
September
5 First day of Fall Semester for T/TH and M-F students
6 First day of Fall Semester for M/W and M/W/F students
November
10 Holiday: Veterans' Day
22-24 Holiday: Thanksgiving
December
21- January 2 Winter Break
2024
January
December 21- January 2 Winter Break
15-16 Holiday: Martin Luther King Day
February
19-20 Holiday: Presidents Days
March
25-29 Spring Break
May
17 Last day of school (campus closes at noon)
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
We would love to talk to you about our program!
Contact Benson Memorial UMC Preschool