HomeSchools & EducationUltimate Preschool GuideWeekday Ministries at Geist Christian Church

Weekday Ministries at Geist Christian Church

Geist Christian Church’s Weekday Ministries program offers classes for ages 1½ thru Kindergarten. The school provides a safe, secure hands-on learning environment where God’s love is integrated throughout the day. For more information, we invite families to explore the website, geistwdm.org. You can also contact the director at either campus to schedule a tour.

General Info:

Address: 12756 Promise Road Fishers, IN 46038 and 8550 Mud Creek Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46256
Phone: (317)578-4591
Website: geistwdm.org


Q&A with Weekday Ministries:

What makes Weekday Ministries unique?

Weekday Ministries is proud to be a leader in connecting children with the natural world through its Certified Nature Explore® Classroom – the first of its kind in the Greater Indianapolis area. The breathtaking outdoor educational space is designed in partnership with Arbor Day Foundation and Dimensions™ Educational Research Foundation and is fully integrated into Weekday Ministries’ school and summer camp programs.

The dynamic, nature-based play and learning space was constructed using research-based, field-tested design principles to create a nature-rich outdoor experience for students. Numerous studies show that children’s social, psychological, academic and physical health is positively impacted when they have daily contact with nature, and this new space helps students meet this innate human need. By integrating well-designed outdoor education into its curriculum, Weekday Ministries is making a positive difference in the lives of children who may not be receiving adequate time exploring their interests in nature.

Currently, the Certified Nature Explore Classroom is offered at our Promise Road campus. Plans are underway to open a second certified outdoor classroom at the school’s Mud Creek Campus in Indianapolis.

To learn more about Certified Nature Explore Classroom, visit www.natureexplore.org.

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What is Weekday Ministries educational philosophy?

Weekday Ministries’ curriculum is based on core early childhood practices of hands-on learning for each student, guided by a classroom-proven curriculum.
This includes the use of Zoo-phonics® multi-sensory language arts program and the renowned Everyday Mathematics comprehensive math program. Beyond reading, writing and arithmetic, we are proud to offer a variety of specials that help open children’s imaginations and give broader meaning and enjoyment to the world in which they live. This includes Music, Movement & Motor and Art.

Children also take part in a weekly Faith and Values class and attend chapel led by the Faith & Values teacher, along with campus pastors and staff. During chapel, they sing songs and actively engage in spiritual lessons. Children of all faiths are welcome!

Further, all teachers are trained in Conscious Discipline®, a whole-school solution for social-emotional learning, discipline and self-regulation that empowers teachers to consciously respond to daily conflict in a way that is safe, constructive and helps teach critical life skills to children.

What is Weekday Ministries age/grade range?

Programs Offered

For more than 25 years, Geist Christian Church has offered a faith-based preschool program. Today, that program is offered at both the Promise Road and Mud Creek Campuses and includes the following:

  • Kindergarten – 5 years old by August 1st
  • Transitional Kindergarten – 5 years old (Mud Creek Campus only) by August 1st
  • Pre-Kindergarten – 4 to 5 years old by August 1st
  • Preschool – 3 to 4 years old by August 1st
  • Child’s Day Out – 18 months to 3 years old by August 1st

What is your enrollment policy? Are there any key dates parents should be aware of?

Kindergarten registration is currently open for the 2024-2025 school year.
General registration for CDO, Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten is February 7, 2024.

 

What are the standard school day hours? Weekday Ministries offer flexible day/hour options? Is before/after school care available?

Kindergarten students attend 9am to 2:30pm.

Transitional Kindergarten, Pre-Kindergarten, Preschool, and Child’s Day Out students attend 9:30am to 1:30pm.

Before Care and After Care are offered. Before Care runs 8:30am to 9:30am and After Care runs 1:30pm to 2:30pm.

How many children are in each class? How are children divided up?

Class sizes vary dependent upon the campus and classroom size.

What is the teacher/child ratio?

Kindergarten classes are a 10 to 1 ratio.  Transitional Kindergarten classes are an 8 to 1 ratio.  Pre-Kindergarten, Preschool, and Child’s Day out classes at the Mud Creek campus vary dependent upon classroom size.  At the Promise Road campus Pre-Kindergarten classes are an 8 to 1 ratio.  Preschool classes are a 6 to 1 ratio.  Child’s Day Out classes are a 5 to 1 ratio.

Is parental participation required?

Parent participation is not required, but is highly encouraged. Our Kindergarten classrooms have the opportunity for parents to volunteer on a weekly basis. All other classrooms contact parents as volunteer opportunities arise. Parents also volunteer to organize and run classroom parties. Parents are also invited to attend monthly Chapel with their child’s class.

How do teachers communicate with parents? How often do parents receive updates?

Teachers communicate weekly with parents via brightwheel.

How much time do the children spend outside?

Weather permitting, classes go outside daily.

Are meals and/or snacks provided?

No meals are provided. All students must bring their own sack lunch.

Special snack times do arise at school. All snacks must be store bought and sent to school in their original packaging, no homemade snacks allowed. Ingredients for these snacks will be shared with parents for approval prior to being given to the students.

Does my child need to be potty-trained?

Our Child’s Day Out students do not need to be potty-trained.

All Transitional Kindergarten, Pre-Kindergarten and Preschool students must be potty-trained.

What enrichment programs/activities are offered?

For students wanting to add an extra day to their school week we offer an enrichment day at the Promise Road Campus.

Summer camps are also available to students.

What are Weekday Ministries safety policies? 

At Weekday Ministries, keeping our children and teachers safe is our number one priority. Each day after student drop off the building doors are locked as well as the classroom doors. All visitors must sign in at the front desk. Anyone entering the school hallway must have a current background check on file.
We will be following the guidelines set by the CDC, Fishers Health Department, Marion County Health Department and FSSA for the 2024-2025 school year.

Who should parents contact for more information about Weekday Ministries?

If you are interested in more information on Weekday Ministries at Geist Christian Church please call (317)578-4591 for more information. The director at our Promise Road campus is Amy Schlemma and at our Mud Creek campus the director is Valerie Zeigler. We invite parents to visit our website, geistwdm.org, to take a virtual tour.

Take a virtual tour: 

Promise Road  – https://youtu.be/NAEFBJRjo4M
 
 

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