Continued Expansion Marks Preschool’s 30th Year!

Continued Expansion Marks Preschool’s 30th Year!

New Classrooms/Improvements Dovetail with Construction of

Church’s New Worship Space

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Michelle Maloney, Director

864-501-6822/admin@ils-sc.com

Simpsonville, SC (May 30, 2024) It’s doubtful whether children five years old and under would grasp the concept, but when they left Immanuel Lutheran School in mid-May they were witnesses to the end of the school’s 30th year. They were also the final class to share school space with office and worship space for Immanuel Lutheran Church as it reaches its own milestone in June of completing construction of a new sanctuary adjacent to the existing building, opening the door to school expansion.

Established in 1994 as outreach to the local community to provide parents with a preschool option that includes Christian instruction, the school started with six children and soon grew to three classrooms serving K3 and K4 students. Today 120 students, ages one through five, participate in K1, K2, K3 and K4 programs in nine classrooms. When the new school year begins on September 3rd and 4th capacity will grow to 11 classrooms, allowing for an increase in existing programs.

“We’re blessed that our congregation had the foresight to begin and continue to support the early education of area children,” noted Reverend Jeff VanOsdol, Immanuel’s pastor, adding that typically only about five percent of students are from congregation families. “Our mission then, as it is today, is to provide and maintain the highest possible standard of education, founded in God’s Word and guided by the Holy Spirit. We’re equipping students to faithfully serve as witnessing children and productive citizens. That approach seems to have appealed to local families over the last three decades.”

All students attend chapel weekly and Bible stories and Christian values are incorporated into the curriculum in every part of the school day.

“Our staff is truly dedicated to the school and its mission,” said Michelle Maloney, the school’s director. “All teachers in K2, K3 and K4 classrooms are degreed teachers who have been here for an average of seven years. Five staff members have worked at Immanuel for 12 years or more.”

Maloney added that the addition of new classrooms will allow the school to continue to keep class size small and provide individualized instruction. “There are six children in K1 classrooms, eight in K2, 10 in K3, and 10 to 12 in K4. The new space will allow us to serve a growing need in the Simpsonville area while still maintaining class size. We look forward to accommodating even more local families in the new school year.”

And when those families do come, they’re bound to make new friendships. “It’s not unusual to see parents bond as the children begin their education,” said Maloney. “In addition to their goal of getting their children a quality, faith-based education, they find have other things in common that transcends the classroom.”

For more information or to schedule a tour of Immanuel Lutheran School, contact Michelle Maloney, Director, at 864-501-6822 or at admin@ils-sc.com. Or visit https://immanuellutheranschool...

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