Community Nursery School

About

The goal of Community Preschool is to enhance each child’s self-concept by stimulating his or her cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development within a group environment. Children are encourages to experiment and explore.

During playtime they will be free to choose their own individual or small group activities. At other times there will be more structured activities involving the entire class. These activities will be set up to help each child function within a group setting. Listening to others, taking turns, cooperating and sharing will be stressed.

Throughout the sessions, each child will be encouraged to be responsible for his or her belongings, environment and actions. Help will be available if it is needed, but children will be encouraged to do things for themselves – to become as independent as possible. Creativity in all areas will be encourages. All activities are designed to give each child a happy first school experience, so that he or she will look forward to future years of education.

Community Preschool of First Lutheran Church will accept children regardless of race, creed, or religious affiliation.

The school was founded as the Martinson Nursery School in 1960 by Opal Martinson of Alexandria, who operated it out of her home on 10th Avenue East. In 1979, the entire program was moved to First Lutheran Church at 822 Douglas Street in Alexandria, with Martinson continuing its operation for one year before retiring. The name was changed to Community Nursery School and its capacity was eighty 3 and 4 year old students in four classes. We now go by the name Community Preschool.