Growing a Love for Learning

“Our three year old came up in the COVID era and has lived a somewhat isolated, sheltered toddlerhood to date. He’s a quiet, shy and rather sensitive little guy and because of that, we were anxious about how he might adjust to the more formal school setting. Nazarene has far exceeded our expectations and brought our son out of his shell in ways we couldn’t have predicted, socially and academically speaking. He loves going to school and clearly feels safe with his teacher and really, the whole staff. The entire staff gets to know your child and your family. Sending our kids to Nazarene is one of the best decisions we have made living out here in Homer Glen. We can’t say enough good things about the entire operation!”

– Preschool Parent

About Us

Our Mission

Welcome to Nazarene Preschool! Our mission is to provide a creative and nurturing environment that encourages each child to develop a love of learning. Our program has been a successful part of this community for more than 45 years as a ministry of First Nazarene Church.

We offer programs for Pre-K children ages 2 ½ to 5 years with a curriculum that focuses on developing the whole child and providing opportunities for cognitive, emotional, social and spiritual development. Through creative and meaningful activities in language arts, math, science, music, art, and social, physical & spiritual development, Nazarene Preschool graduates are well prepared for kindergarten. Our goal is to build the foundation our students need to reach their full potential and become successful life-long learners.

Staff

Nazarene Preschool is a state-licensed facility, which means all our teachers conform to state requirements. Naz teachers are all educated in early childhood, most carrying a bachelor’s degree in education, but many with master’s degrees as well. Nazarene Preschool’s director, Meissl Boyce, has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and eight years’ experience as a preschool and elementary teacher.

Why Naz is Unique

First Nazarene offers many ministries that span spiritual life, recreation and education, each with programs that have reached thousands of families in our community. Beyond just the preschool program, there are so many opportunities to develop the “whole child”, such as joining a sports team or art classes.

Physical Education During the preschool day, our students have access to the gyms. They get to run, play and be imaginative with playhouses, cozy coupes, scooters, balls and more! Having this large play space helps them foster relationships and build social skills.

Music Nazarene Preschool has a music teacher on staff. Songs coincide with each lesson, reiterating what students learned about shapes or colors, for example. Students also have the opportunity to explore instruments and learn about rhythm. Music programs are performed during Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day and Graduation during the school day.

Spiritual First Nazarene’s Children’s Pastor shares a bible story once a week with students. To help students grasp a better understanding of the story, they sing story-related songs and activities each day. In addition, students learn and memorize a bible verse each month.

First Nazarene offers other programs through Naz Rec:

Lunch Pals This is a popular program through Nazarene Recreation, which extends the preschool day for students seeking extra socialization. Students eat lunch brought from home or purchase a hot lunch with their friends and then play sports, color, and participate in imagination-based games or activities. There are two options, the first runs from 11:30-1:30 (M-F) and the second runs from 11:30-2:30 (M-TH only).

Nazarene Recreation is a ministry of First Nazarene Church where thousands of kids participate in sports programs, classes and summer day camps each year. With over 40 years dedicated to serving and uniting the community, Naz Rec is a wonderful place for your child to experience engaging sports and activities in a safe and friendly environment. As a Naz Preschooler, your child can feel proud and at-home as they play sports, participate in an art class, or cheer and dance on stage in a familiar space and often, with a familiar face.

Schedule a Tour! Call (708)349-0454

Programs

Nazarene Preschool offers classes for young 3’s, 3’s and 4’s

Preschool begins at 9AM and ends at 11:30AM. The Young 3’s program begins at 10AM and ends at 11:30AM.

Tuition Information

2 1/2 years - Young 3's

A place where younger 3 year old’s meet new friends and learn to be independent from their parents for a short period of time. The Young 3’s are introduced to numbers, letters and shapes and enjoy plenty of creative play. Young 3’s meet Tuesday & Thursday from 10AM to 11:30AM. Children must be turning 3 by December 31^st.

3's

Continuing the developmental and cognitive skills introduced in Young 3’s, our program for 3 year old’s further their knowledge of letters, numbers and shapes using creativity, projects and seasonal activities. Bible, art and music also play a big part in the fun! 3’s meet Tuesday & Thursday for a 2-day program (OR) Mon, Wed & Fri for a 3-day program (OR) Tue, Wed, Thur & Fri, for a 4-day program.

4's

An engaging combination of learning and play. Our 4 year old’s work on their letters, printing names, letter sounds and numbers. They also work together to strengthen and brighten their social skills with lesson in the Bible, music and art. 4’s meet Monday, Wednesday & Friday for a 3-day program (OR) Tuesday – Friday for a 4-day program (OR) Monday – Friday for a 5-day program.

Admissions

Registration for the 2023/24 school year is now open!

Schedule a Tour! Call (708)349-0454

How to Apply

Please email or drop off the following completed forms:

Enrollment Form HERE
Physical Form (due August 1^st)
Copy of Birth Certificate (due August 1^st)

Tuition

Monthly tuition is collected September – May. Tuition is due to Nazarene Preschool by the 10^th day of each month. Tuition is most conveniently paid through our online platform with recurring payments. Tuition can be mailed (PO Box 208, Lemont, IL 60439) or dropped off in the Church Office. A $10 late fee will be charged for any tuition paid after the 10^th of the month. Any parent whose check is returned by the bank will be responsible for the current bank charges in addition to the child’s tuition. If the bank returns a check more than twice, tuition must be paid in cash until the Director notifies differently. First Nazarene requires a two-week written notice for any program withdraws. If prior notice is not given, tuition is due. Failure to pay tuition for 2 months may result in dismissal from the program. Siblings receive a 10% discount.

Tuition is as follows for the 2023/24 school year:

Young 3’s: T/Th 2-day program – tuition $132/month

3’s: T/Th 2-day program – tuition $192/month
M/W/F 3-day program – tuition $252/month
T-F 4 day program – tuition $334/month

4’s: M/W/F 3-day program – $252/month
T-F 4-day program – $334/month
M-F 5-day program – $390/month

Admission is open to any child without discrimination, provided our school can meet the needs of that child. Children enrolled in our 3- and 4-year-old programs must be 3 or 4 years of age by September 1^st and toilet trained. Children in our Young 3’s program must turn 3 by December 31^st and toilet trained. A non-refundable registration fee and enrollment form are required to reserve a spot at Nazarene Preschool. An updated physical form and copy of birth certificate must be submitted by August 1. No child will be accepted into the program without proper immunizations, an up-to-date physical form or exemption in their file.

Parent Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

School Calendar

Monthly Newsletter

Class Calendars

Contact Us

Email

Meissl Boyce | Director

mboyce@firstnaz.cc

Call the Office

First Nazarene Office

(708) 349 0454

Find us on Facebook

Nazarene Preschool

We researched many preschool options for our daughter. Naz was our last visit, and upon walking in the door, it instantly felt like home. From the warm staff to the top-notch facilities to the values-oriented curriculum, Naz is the real deal. Without question, sending our daughter to preschool (and after-school care) at Naz has been one of our best parental decisions!

Marissa Betley

When my wife and I started researching preschools back in 2016, we had several options to choose from. In the end, we chose Nazarene Preschool after attending their open house and getting positive feedback from friends and family. We have had all four of our children go through their program with the last one going through it now.

We chose Nazarene Preschool for many reasons with the biggest being it provided a great education in the core areas while also teaching about our Savior Jesus Christ. All four of our children are better because of the core beliefs and values of Nazarene Preschool and the education they provide.

Steven Ignacek