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.

Registering for the 2023-2024 School Year

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).

 

How do we prepare your child for kindergarten?
Do you offer enrichment programs?

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

What ages do you accept?
How much is tuition?
How do I register my child?
Can you help me register?
How can I contact the Preschool?

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

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