Our curriculum is centered
on the child and was developed
to help each child grow
socially, spiritually, and intellectually.

The Methodist-Presbyterian Nursery School (MPNS) is a joint ministry of the First Presbyterian Church and its next-door neighbor First United Methodist Church. Our policies and procedures are developed and upheld by the teachers and mothers who represent both churches and serve on the MPNS board of directors. The ministers of both churches provide leadership. Our facility is licensed by the State of Tennessee.

Mission Statement
Our purpose is to create a fun, loving, and Christian based environment where children can express their individualism. We teach the educational curriculum needed for elementary school in addition to enjoying stories from the Word of God. We instruct sharing, fair play, and problem solving in a non-violent way. We will always demonstrate love and kindness to the children so they will learn from example and do the same to each other.

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Curriculum
Our curriculum, for learning the alphabet and their sounds, is “Now I know my ABC’s and a whole lot more”. This is a progressive curriculum that teaches the letters and sounds for 3-4-5 year old children. It has songs, activities, puppets and worksheets to make learning each letter so much fun.
Each teacher also teaches numbers, shapes, colors and other skills they need for Kindergarten. We receive the Weekly Reader educational resource which includes a wide range of excellent teaching topics.

Children need academic development before going to kindergarten, but we believe they also need a firm foundation from the Word of God. For faith development, each week the children join in Small Talk. This is an age appropriate message from the pastors of the two churches or the youth directors. They take turns discussing Bible stories or biblical messages. In addition to receiving these stories from the pastors, the students learn a Bible verse for each fruit of the spirit. They will learn real-life ways of how to show love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

One important aspect of getting children ready for kindergarten is the social and emotional aspect. We work with the children through play inside the nursery school, and out on the playground. As they play with each other we teach them to play nice and how to solve problems when an argument arises. We teach a Personal Safety Program issued by the State of Tennessee that touches on some of the issues of problem solving with your friends. This includes lessons on feelings, friends, family, self-esteem, and being safe.

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Policies & Procedures
The following policies and procedures are set by the MPNS Board made up of representatives of the two sponsor churches, along with the teachers.

1. Each student’s tuition ($70.00 for T-TH) or ($105.00 for M-W-F) is due on the first day of classes. In subsequent months, tuition is to be paid to your child’s teacher on the first meeting day of the month. If payment is not received by the 20th, your child’s name will be dropped from the roll unless other arrangements have been made.
2. State law requires an up-to-date health record signed by your family physician or the health department to be turned in on the first day of school. The health record must include 3 or 4 polio, 4 DPT, 1 or 2 MMR, 3 Hepatitis B, and 4 HIB vaccine; Varicella (Chicken Pox) Vaccine. The law requires that you have this health record when your child starts school!
3. School hours on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday are 8:00 to 12:00. Hours on Tuesday and Thursday are 8:00 to 12 noon. PLEASE observe these times as the teachers are preparing for the morning before 8:00 and need their time after 12:00 to clean up!
4. Your child may be dropped off under the breezeway next to the picnic tables from 7:50 – 8:05 am. If you arrive after 8:05, please park and walk your child to their classroom. At 12:00 dismissal, please park and come in to get your child from their classroom. When leaving, be sure your teacher knows you and your child are leaving together. We must know each and every child is accounted for from the beginning of our morning until the end of it.
5. Nursery School closings due to inclement weather will usually follow those of Tipton County Schools. When ice and snow appear, tune in to WKBQ radio (FM 93.5) or KBJ (Channel 29) on cable.
6. We will have outside play every day – rainy weather excluded – including the winter months. If the temperature is sub-freezing, we will remain indoors. If your child is not well enough to go outside, please do not send him or her to nursery school. (We do not have the extra staff to stay inside with a sick child.) Please dress your child according to weather, for example, coats, mittens and hats on cold days! Please put names on all outerwear. Please do not send a jacket or coat with a string at the neck. This can be very dangerous while playing outside if it became caught on something.
7. Please, no chewing gum, unless for a party or special treat for the whole class!
8. Your child is welcome to bring her/his own things to school – books, toys, etc. Please be sure these special things are ones that he/she will be allowed to and willing to share with others. Please be sure these things are appropriate around small children – no make-up, sharp or pointed items, or unblown balloons, etc. Please do not let your child bring toy guns or weapons to nursery school – we feel this promotes violence.
9. We welcome and encourage any parental involvement.
10. Any food or drink brought to nursery school must be bought at a store or bakery.

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Teachers & Board Members
We have three teachers who are dedicated to the nursery school and the children who attend. The following is a little information about each of our teachers.

ANDREA FRANKLIN… “Miss Andrea” teaches our 4-5 year-old classes on Monday-Wednesday-Friday and Tuesday-Thursday. She received a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from University of TN. at Martin. She married Conner Franklin and has a son and a daughter. She worked in the Tipton County School System for 4 years. She started teaching for MPNS in 1997. She became director in 2000 when Miss Nancy stepped down from full time to two days a week.

CYNTHIA GOFORTH- “Miss Cynthia” teaches our three-four year old class on Tuesday-Thursday. She received a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from the University of TN. At Martin. She is married to Ron Goforth. They have four daughters. She taught first grade in Dyersburg for three years and Kindergarten in Covington for 27 years. She retired in December of 2004. She is excited about the opportunity to continue teaching on a part time basis.

TAMMY DAVIS… “Miss Tammy” teaches our three-year-old classes on Monday-Wednesday-Friday and Tuesday-Thursday. She graduated from Covington High School. She is married to Keith Davis and has three boys. She started working for MPNS when her twins started nursery school. She worked as a substitute one year and then as an assistant one year. She started working full time in 1999.

BOARD MEMBERS…Board members of the nursery school consist of parents who are members of the First United Methodist Church and the First Presbyterian Church. The following is a list of the current board members for MPNS.

Holly Lyle, Chairperson
Lane Howard, Treasurer
Stefanie Beasley
Melanie Bennett
Brenda Elzie
Jennifer Francis
Amy Gilbreath
Jennifer Howard
Audra McDivitt
Stefanie Rogers
Susan Sampson
Christine Smith
Hope Turner

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Licensing & Testimonials
If you are wondering about statewide certification or simply what other parents think after having their child at MPNS, read on…

LICENSING. The state of Tennessee Department of Human Services licenses MPNS to operate annually. The decision to issue the license is determined by both a licensing counselor and a program evaluator with the state.

The state makes an annual visit to MPNS to issue a “report card.” The report card assesses seven different areas: director qualifications, professional development, compliance history, parent/family involvement, ratio and group size, staff compensation, and program assessment. We are pleased to report that the MPNS HAS THE HIGHEST AVAILABLE RATING, a three star rating.

TESTIMONIALS. On a recent parent survey form, parents were given the opportunity to share anonymous comments on the nursery school. The responses were overwhelmingly positive. Here are a few examples.

“MPNS and staff are wonderful. I feel so blessed that my child’s first exposure to a school setting was so rewarding. She loved every minute that she spent with ‘Miss Tammy.’ Thank you for making her first year so memorable. I never once worried about her while she was at school. I knew she was being well taken care of!”

“This has been a wonderful experience for both Todd and Us. We appreciate all that Andrea and the board of the preschool has done to make this year a success.”

“Thanks for making my child’s first school experience so wonderful!!”

“She has a better understanding of Jesus, has learned how to be around other children, gained independence, and learned her basics… thank you so much!!!”

“She has fun learning, she enjoys being at school because she knows that the people there love her.”

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Fees & Calendar Year
When an application for nursery school is taken, a registration fee of $40.00 is taken as well. This is a once a year fee. This fee is for Weekly Reader, insurance, supplies, and other things necessary to get the year started. Our tuition is $70.00 per month for Tuesday –Thursday and $105.00 for Monday-Wednesday-Friday to be paid at the first of the month unless other arrangements have been made by the parent with the teacher.

Our calendar goes along with the Tipton County School schedule. However, we do not start until the week of Labor Day. Our first week of school is different. We divide the class so that half of the class goes one day and the other half goes the other day. If the county school has a holiday, we have a holiday. This year’s school schedule is as follows…

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Mission Projects
Each year, the children will be exposed to the idea of Christian mission work. Time is spent explaining why we are to do mission work. One such project we have done is the Carl Perkins Christmas program. This is a project in which each class will have the name of a needy child here our community. The children will bring in items they have selected from a wish and needs list that the teachers have provided.

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History of the School
In 1964, the First Presbyterian Church of Covington, TN started a kindergarten and nursery school. At that time, the nursery school met three mornings a week and a kindergarten met five mornings per week. In 1972, the church felt that there was not really enough interest to carry on with the school. At that time, the members of the First United Methodist Church were getting ready to start a school of their own, but their building did not meet the required standards. The Methodist-Presbyterian Nursery School was organized in 1972 as a ministry of both churches.

The nursery school is housed in the First Presbyterian Church and has board members from each church. The nursery school provides a safe, Christian preschool learning environment for children from three- to five-years of age.

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Driving Directions
FROM THE SOUTH. Take Highway 51 north into Covington. Turn right onto West Church Street. Go .25 mile to the corner of West Church Street and South Main Street. Take a right onto South Main Street and an immediate left into the church parking lot.

FROM THE NORTH. Take Highway 51 south into Covington. Turn left onto West Church Street. Go .25 mile to the corner of West Church Street and South Main Street. Take a right onto South Main Street and an immediate left into the church parking lot.

FROM THE WEST. Take Highway 59 into Covington. Highway 59 is West Liberty as you approach Covington. Take a right on Highway 51. Take the third road on your left, which is West Church Street. Go .25 mile to the corner of West Church Street and South Main Street. Take a right onto South Main Street and an immediate left into the church parking lot.

FROM THE EAST. Take Highway 54 into Covington. Highway 54 is East Liberty as you approach Covington. Take left onto South Maple Street just before you get to the square in Covington. Go .17 miles on South Maple to East Church Street. Turn right on East Church Street. Take a left onto South Main Street and an immediate left into the church parking lot.

http://www.mapquest.com

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Contact Us
If you have any questions about MPNS, feel free to call the First Presbyterian Church office at (901) 476-2434 between 9 AM – 2 PM weekdays. Or email MPNS at lane@fpccovington.org.