School for Little Children: My Testimony

Sheri Saunders

Last year at this time I found myself looking for a bridge class that would help my daughter reach her full potential prior to starting kindergarten. She needed a structured, multi-sensory program that would encourage learning. When I stopped in to visit Mrs. Rey’s Bridge Class at The School for Little Children, I saw the kids hugging their moms goodbye, then placing a band on their right hand and moving an astronaut into place to begin the day. The band is just one of the simple tasks the children perform to learn “right” from “left”. This alone should have been enough to realize I had found a special class but I still needed convincing. Next she showed me the working journals she prepares for each student which records in their own words what happened over the weekend. Here she introduces the children to their first attempts at ex- pressing and organizing their thoughts on paper. The daily class schedule was broken down into 10 - 30 minute increments with not a minute wasted. Time was allotted for calendar, weather, flags, math, art, science, stories and play.

As luck would have it, the day I visited was a Thursday, science day. The kids were to de- termine which size container would cause a match to burn longer. All the kids were on the edge of their seats awaiting the outcome of the experiment. This sealed the deal. We signed up and now we’re five months into the school year and we could not be happier. The love, en- couragement and instruction Mrs. Rey and Mrs. Janak give to the children in the Bridge Class would be tough to surpass. Should you find your child in need of a bridge to reach their goals, check out the Bridge Class at the end of the hall.

Sincerely,
Sheri Saunders

Cindy Elliott Wilford

"Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

1978 brought us to Sugar Land First United Methodist Church. We knew after visiting that we had reached our home for a church. We had an eight year old daughter at the time. I began serving on several committees of the church and soon realized how very strong our school program was. In 1981 our son was born. When he turned three he began at the School for Little Children with his teacher being Kip Johnson.

He stayed at the school for three years and attended the bridge class under the late Doris Petty. The school was such a blessing in his life and in ours. He learned, he was happy, confident, and became a student in the top of his classes all through his school years, college, and law school. In 2008 Scott, his wife and one daughter moved back to Houston and chose Sugar Land First United Methodist Church for their church home.They now have two daughters and have chosen School For Little Children for their daughters. It is wonderful to watch my granddaughters learn and grow and be happy individuals.

The teachers and staff are so loving and dedicated to each child's development and it is clearly witnessed when I see the girls growing in so many positive and spiritual ways. I know how much the church values the school and the teachers. I have loved this school for many years and now with another generation of our family coming through these doors I am thankful for the firm foundation that our school allows children to build their lives upon.

Marilyn Ewing

The School for Little Children was established 40 years ago as a caring, loving environment with a dedicated, well trained staff to give the best experiences to young children as they begin their early education. This goal has been consistent through the years under the leadership of the directors and Preschool Board. The staff is constantly receiving training through workshops, in class training, net working and sharing ideas to always provide the very best for the children.

The staff, parents, and children become like family in the years shared at the school. Jesus taught us “Train up a child onto the right path and they will never leave it”. SFLC gives children a foundation for their lives.

It was my pleasure to work at SFLC for 20 years as a 3 year old teacher. The experiences with those families and their children was a blessing to me then and continues today as I watch those 3 year olds grow up and become caring and responsible adults.

Michael Kurmadas

Hi, my name in Michael Kurmadas. At the School for Little Children my teacher Mrs. Zimmerman had a big impact on me in science. Every day we would do a science experiment and I had loved it. One time we hatched butterflies and released them that was really fun. I’ll never forget her. She is the best.

Sincerely,
Michael K. (6th grader)

Wayne and Vi Chandler

For at least 17 years, Vi and I, our three children, their spouses, and our seven grandchildren, all have benefitted from The School for Little Children.

Matt Bradley, 3, son of Jason and Amy, currently is enjoying the nurturing provided by Miss Cynthia and Mrs. Mac.

One day recently, Matt’s older brother, Sam, 5, who now is in kindergarten, was able to come with me to pick up Matt. It was like "old home week." Former teachers from Sam's years at the school, called him by name, and he got a couple of hugs. Sam remembered all the rooms in which he had learned and played and napped.

Long before, Sam and Matt, their older sister, Kathryn Schmidt, enjoyed a similar loving environment. Prior to that, Justin and Maria Chandler's boys, Konrad and Kaleb, were there, as were our daughter Abby's children, Alexis and Bret McHale. They all have fond memories of their formative years there.

We are more and more convinced of the importance of early childhood education. We have friends who operate a private pre-K school where they believe that today is more important than tomorrow with every child. The love, encouragement, and care these fortunate youngsters are getting will stay with them forever.

Vi and I are so proud of our church, the sponsorship of this school, and so appreciative of all the efforts which your committee, teachers and staff contribute to it. We're glad to be a witness to it.

Ms. Deci

It is my desire to become a teacher. It is all I have ever imagined my self to be. I am sure it has all to do with my earliest years of life when I was attending the School For Little Children. Here I was shaped and molded into the person I am today.

A child learns to love when they are loved, this was just the case for me. The love at this school has affected me in such a way that it is clear now-I may never leave! Surrounded by so many loving women, all still to this day, like mothers to me.

I see myself in the little faces of the children I work with today, and if I can reach out to even just one child and let them know that Jesus lives in their heart and loves them unconditionally, than I will feel confidant that they will be able to handle what ever life may bring their way. I am a living example of this!

I want every child who leaves this school to leave with the same knowledge I left with and that is,
“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength”. Phil 4:13