Stronger Together: How We Partner with Families

 This is the second article in our series explaining how we put our mission statement into practice at New Hope Preschool. The introduction to the series can be found here.

Children thrive when families and teachers are partners for their education and development. Parents are a child’s first and most important teachers. We are honored to support families in building their children’s foundations in faith, character, and skill.

A True Partnership

Partnering with families isn’t just an empty phrase. From even before your child joins our preschool, we aim to build a strong, collaborative relationship with you. We communicate regularly through parent updates, and we welcome opportunities to meet individually during conferences. Parents’ classes, outings, and special events provide another way for families to connect. Parents are welcome to spend time in the classroom. And we are always available for a quick chat when you drop off or pick up your child.

Not long ago, during a curriculum unit about trees, a parent who is a woodworker brought samples of different kinds of wood for the children to touch, as well as some fragrant wood shavings, and photos of some of his projects. The children were impressed with the woodworker’s skill, and his son was happy and proud to show off his father’s work.

Why It Matters

When parents and teachers work together, children experience consistency and encouragement. Home and school feel like extensions of one another when parents and teachers are a team. Children see the same values and habits reinforced in both places, so they feel especially supported in their learning and growth. Parents support their children at school, and teachers support families outside the school whenever possible. For example, we’ve been to dance events and music recitals, and we’ve provided support for families who were preparing to move overseas. 

Our partnership also allows us to understand each child more deeply. Parents know their children better than anyone else. Parents’ insights help us tailor learning experiences that meet their children’s unique gifts, interests, and needs. One mom told us that her child had become very interested in drawing, so we encourage him to use the classroom art materials during free choice time to create art.

Everyday Connections

Partnership isn’t only about formal meetings or events — it happens in small, everyday moments. A shared goal, like helping a child with toilet training, looking people in the eye when talking, or practicing kindness toward siblings, is strengthened when teachers and parents communicate and celebrate together. We encourage families to be actively involved in their child’s preschool experience, because when we work together, children thrive.

Kids' Christmas Celebration - This Saturday, December 6

 There is still time to sign up for the Kids' Christmas party. See the flyer below and sign up at this link!

Building a Lifetime of Joy and Purpose

At New Hope Preschool, we believe that the early years of a child’s life are a time of incredible potential. Our mission is simple: partnering with families to build a foundation of faith, character, and skill for a lifetime of joy and purpose. Every decision, every activity, and every interaction is guided by this mission. We believe that each child is a unique gift from God, created with special talents and abilities to develop and share with the world.

Partnership with Families

Parents are primarily responsible for their children’s education, and we are honored to partner with them. Through regular letters, meetings, parents’ classes, and special events, we work hand-in-hand with families to guide and encourage each child’s growth. 

This partnership often goes beyond children’s preschool years. Many families continue with us even after graduation by enrolling their children in our weekly English classes, which have the feel of a weekly class reunion.

Foundations for Faith, Character, and Skill

At New Hope, we don’t just prepare children for school — we help them grow into thoughtful, joyful, and purposeful individuals. Children are encouraged to have faith in God, learning about his love through Bible stories, prayer, and practical application. Children develop character traits like kindness, patience, and self-control, guided by our focus on the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). And children build essential skills — from academic readiness and social decision-making to physical development and exposure to English and foreign culture — all within a nurturing, playful environment. 

Recently, we saw a boy’s foundation in social skills grow stronger. He used to choose the same toy every day and play with it by himself. But last week, he took a brave step. He put that toy away, chose something else to play with and took it to a place on the mat where two other children were. They welcomed him and played with him until it was time to move on to the next activity.

A Lifetime of Joy and Purpose

Joy and purpose are at the heart of everything we do. We prepare an environment where children can learn and grow without pressure to be perfect. Excellence, not perfection, guides our approach — in teaching, classroom management, and in celebrating each child’s unique gifts. By focusing on long-term benefits over quick results, we help children develop habits, attitudes, and skills that will serve them for a lifetime. 

For example, instead of jumping in immediately to stop every conflict, our teachers sometimes watch and allow children time to figure out a solution on their own. We step in when necessary, but children are surprisingly good at finding their own win-win solutions.

Join Us on the Journey

Over the next several weeks, we’ll share more about how we put each part of our mission statement into practice. You’ll learn how we partner with families, nurture faith, develop character, teach essential skills, and guide children toward lives of joy and purpose. Each article will provide a glimpse into our classroom and into the heart of New Hope Preschool.

Thank you for joining us on this journey — we can’t wait to share more!

Part 2: Stronger Together: How We Partner with Families