Preschool

Welcome to Martin Luther Preschool, a ministry of the Bismarck-Mandan Lutheran School Association in Bismarck, North Dakota, and supported by our four area churches*.

The staff at Martin Luther Preschool work together to make each day, month, and year a special, positive learning experience for your child while they are in our care. We also enjoy having the wonderful opportunity to share the Savior with your child. In return, we ask that you work with us in making your child’s time with Martin Luther Preschool the best it can be.

All preschool families are welcome to participate in worship services and Bible study groups that are offered through our churches. If you presently do not have a church home, we invite you to consider our congregations in Bismarck and Mandan. To find out more about the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, there are adult information classes led by our Pastors throughout the year.

Our classes are led by North Dakota licensed teachers who continually challenge themselves through ongoing education and training. Our staff is not only experienced in Early Childhood Education and Development but each also holds First Aid and CPR/AED Certifications.

Each one of our locations has an atmosphere that is warm and welcoming. Classrooms are created to guide the children to learn and explore while they attend our program.

We offer a half day preschool class offered in the mornings at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church and a full day preschool offered at Martin Luther School. Both of the programs are use a Monday-Friday schedule.

Philosophy

At Martin Luther Preschool we feel our mission is to “make disciples of all nations” (Mathew 20:19), that all “might have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10), and to “Train up a child” (Proverbs 22:6) as they trust in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

Our goal, then, is to provide experiences that will make your child feel secure, confident, and loved. We will help your child grow in wonder, awareness, and self-discovery, all within a Christian atmosphere.

Objectives

The role of Martin Luther Preschool is to satisfy the needs of children in these areas:

The need to trust:

• God’s will in all situations
• His/her parents
• His/her teachers
• Others

The need to explore:

• His/her senses
• His/her vocabulary
• His/her capabilities
• His/her environment
• His/her creative abilities

The need to love others:

• Sharing
• Taking turns
• Respecting

In acknowledging these needs, Martin Luther Preschool will provide your child with an atmosphere of consistency and gentle discipline. Your child will develop an interest and joy in learning and a feeling of success, security, and responsibility.

End Result

Play is your child’s work. Much of his/her sensory-motor play is preparation for later cognitive development. For example, in stacking blocks he learns about spatial relationships, balance, and gravity. In short, Martin Luther Preschool can open your child’s awareness of God’s world and stimulate his inquisitiveness. It can help him accept himself as he is, a special and unique child of God!

Full Day Preschool

Location: Martin Luther School site, 413 East Avenue D

Daily Schedule-

(Before and after school care is available with the full day program.)

GOALS-

Academically, students will learn to recognize and write their name, recognize and identify all 26 sounds, subitize 1 to 1 number correspondence, and know how to rhyme.  Social emotional goals include learning independence, self-regulation, self-advocacy, and problem solving.

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT-

We teach and utilize the overarching concept of Matthew 7:12 is used in this classroom. (Treat others the way you want to be treated). Students also are engaged through the teaching of the zones of regulation and social thinking.

CHRIST-CENTERED- 

Christ is integrated daily through Bible lessons, prayer, and conflict resolution.

CLASSICALLY-PREPARED- 

The classical model  is integrated through recitation (the memorization of facts) to build and put information into the long term memory.  Classical handwriting curriculum and emphasis on phonetic awareness are all taught in a way consistent with the classical model.

A Note from Mrs. Harling 

Watching as children make connections with one another and grow in Jesus’ love and grace is what brings me the greatest joy in teaching.

A Note from Miss Kaila

What I enjoy is watching the transformation of when students become aware and capable of regulating their emotions and being an independent tiny human while showing Jesus’ love and kindness to everyone around them.

Half Day Preschool

Location: Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 801 East Denver

Daily Schedule-

GOALS-

The ultimate goal is to get children socially/emotionally, spiritually, and academically ready for their next level of education – kindergarten ready! In our PreK classes we want to acclimate children to the routines and expectations for school in order to prepare them for their future elementary education. Students will learn invaluable interpersonal skills, such as sharing, how to cooperate with one another, and listening skills that will equip them with the necessary tools they need to enter into kindergarten.

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT-

The Fruits of the Spirit are at the foundation of this Prek classroom management. Students are taught the 7 Fruits (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) right away and these fruits are continuously integrated into daily classroom management through common classroom language, verbal discussion and instruction and behavioral modeling throughout the entire school year. Additionally, blended techniques from “Love and Logic” and “1-2-3 Magic” are incorporated into classroom management as well.

CHRIST-CENTERED-

Teaching with Christ is the core of our Prek learning environment, from using the Fruits of the Spirit for classroom management and conflict resolution, to having children explore the world around them in Science by learning about the Creation story, to growing in knowledge of His Word through daily Jesus Times and monthly Chapel times.

CLASSICALLY-PREPARED-

By fostering critical thinking to encourage children to become independent learners for life and providing curriculum with a strong foundation of knowledge and use of repetition which Early Childhood thrive on. Recitations is so effective at the preschool age as it allows children to learn, recite and retain knowledge. In our Prek setting we often do this with actions as well since kinesthetic learning at this early childhood stage promotes memory skills and retainment of learning concepts. We do this with such things as saying the days of the week or months of the year to songs with actions or reciting scripture memory verses to actions also.

A Note from Mrs. Stelter-

PreK students have an insatiable excitement for learning and ‘wag their tails’ for school. Their natural curiosity and enthusiasm create an environment in which you can’t help but love to teach. Another great joy is the immeasurable reward of building student-teacher/parent-teacher relationships that reach far beyond the classroom. And finally, to best illustrate the vastness of joy received teaching preschoolers, it can be summed up by saying that while we try to teach children about life, they teach us what life is all about! 

Calendar

2024-2025 Pre-school Full Day Calendar

2024-2025 Pre-School Half-Day Calendar

Supply List

Full Day Preschool at Martin Luther School location

-Box of “Broad Line” Washable Crayola Classic Markers
-Tub of Disinfecting Wipes (i.e. Clorox wipes)
-Box of Kleenex
-Pop-up Water Bottle (not twist types, please) filled each day with water only
-Storage Container for Nap Mat (Example)
-Nap mat (Example)
-MLS will prove a Tote/Book Bag and Folder

Half Day Preschool at Shepherd of the Valley location

–Regular sized Backpack
–Two folders — Must be sturdy, plastic kind
–One box of CRAYOLA CLASSIC crayons 24-ct
–TWO box of “Broad Line” (MUST be Washable) Crayola Classic Markers 10-ct. PLEASE MAKE CERTAIN THEY ARE WASHABLE!
-LARGE bottle of ELMER’s glue (7.625 oz. bottle)
–Two tub of Disinfecting Wipes (i.e. Clorox wipes)
-Package of hand/face Wipes (i.e. Baby Wipes)
–One Box of Kleenex
-Pop-up style water bottle — NO twist top or glass please, labeled with your child’s name!

Handbook

Preschool Parent Handbook

Tuition

Registration Fee – $125 per child

Half-day program – $3,900/year
Full-day program – $6,500/year

Enrollment

We currently offer preschool opportunities for 4 and 5 year-olds for the 2025-2026 academic school year.

Apply Online: mytads.com/a/martinlutherbismarck (Set up code ASCLF-KAJ)

-The registration/supply fee is non-refundable except in the case that the child cannot attend due to illness or the family moving to another city.

-Our classes are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis when the fee is received. Your child must be independently toilet-trained, wearing no Pull-Ups. 4/5’s must be 4 years of age by July 31st.

-Our maximum class size is 16 students.

-ABC Care (Before and After School Care) is offered for Full Day PreK students. For more information, see ABC Care page.

-Martin Luther Preschool is licensed by the State of North Dakota and is required to report any suspicion of child abuse or neglect. (North Dakota Century Code, chapter 50-25).

Please contact our main school office at 701-224-9070 if you have questions about enrollment.

Preschool Contact Info

Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church
801 E. Denver Ave.
Bismarck, ND 58504

Zion Lutheran Church/Martin Luther School
413 E. Ave. D
Bismarck, ND 58501

If you have any questions regarding the preschool program or tuition information, please call-701-224-9070 or email- office@mlsclassical.org.