Shining Stars Learning Center has suspended its operations for the 2009-2010 school year, to concentrate on our building project. We apologize for this interruption, and plan on, God willilng, offering an even better program of Christian early childhood education in the fall of 2011.

We'd love a chance to talk to you about our available children's ministries.  Our preschool program is described below.  To get more information about our programs, please click on the staff button on our home page for email and phone number information for our coordinator, Tiphanie Figurski.

Check out the pictures in our photo gallery!!!! Look under Shining Stars Learning Center in the Photo Galleries menu.

Preschool Program

Three and four-year-old toilet trained children are eligible for this developmentally appropriate kindergarten preparatory program.  We emphasize small groups and a low student to teacher ratio to ensure a quality experience!  Curriculum includes beginning Bible concepts, music, movement, art, math, science and literacy.  Classes are from 9am-1pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays starting September 9, 2008.  Tuition is $180 per month.  A $50 registration fee is required when registering to hold your child's spot for the school year. 

Our Curriculum:  

We use a Bible-based curriculum called “Christ Light” as the foundation of our educational programs.  Timeless truths are presented in a straightforward, developmentally appropriate way to nurture students souls through stories, pictures, songs, finger plays, action activities and hands-on manipulatives.  Your child will be given a take-home handout of each story we present throughout the year so the concepts can be reinforced at home.  We also use unit themes, colors, numbers, shapes, letters, nursery rhymes and movement activities to enhance your child’s physical, social, intellectual and emotional development. 

Our Staff:
 
Tiphanie Figurski serves as the program director.  Her responsibilities include enrollment and student files, tuition collection and tracking, facilities managment, communication with parents and serving as an “extra hand” for the teachers on class days.  She has been a member of Fount of Life since 1995 and helped start our Parent’s Morning Out program in 2003.  Tiphanie holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Kansas State University and is pursuing ECE director certification in the state of Colorado .  She and husband Mike have two sons and two daughters, ranging in age from 8– 16. 

Daneen Uhlhorn is our lead teacher and develops our curriculum.  She specializes in teaching Bible, music, large motor and academics.  Involved in SSLC since it's inception as Parent's Morning Out in 2003, Daneen has a wealth of experience in early childhood and elementary education and received her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN.  Daneen and her husband Wayne, Pastor of Fount of Life, have four children; twin sons and two teenage daughters. 

Debbie Collareno specializes in our art curriculum and serves as an assistant in all aspects of our school's operation.  Debbie has been a member of Fount of Life for about five years, has taught preschool Sunday school since she was a teenager, and thoroughly enjoys young children.  She and husband Troy have three sons, aged 6-12 years.