The Children’s Center is a ministry of the First United Methodist church that provides high-quality, affordable, Montessori-based preschool for children ages 3-5. The program celebrated its One-Year Anniversary in March 2025! We still have limited slots open for the 2025-2026 school year, so please apply now if you are interested.
Our staff (more below) are certified teachers with decades of experience and are deeply committed to providing exceptional classroom instruction.
Enrollment is awarded on a first come, first served basis until all spots are filled. Financial Aid is available with a separate application. Links to registration and all forms are below. Classes follow the Cherokee County Schools’ Calendar. Students must be fully potty-trained to attend.
Thank you for your interest in our learning community.
The FUMC Children’s center is a safe and loving environment where childhood is celebrated, learning is joyful, and children are nurtured into confidence and independence.
We offer a peaceful, child-centered learning environment in five key areas of traditional Montessori study: mathematics, language, practical life, sensorial, and cultural studies.
Children progress through the curriculum at their own pace based on their development and interests, with teachers acting as guides to nurture them toward mastery of skills and independence.
Children have weekly chapel time with FUMC’s pastor to learn principles of Christian faith and spiritual formation. Children of any or no faith tradition are welcome in our preschool community.
We also include exposure to art, music, dance, drama, and social and emotional skill building.
Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, our preschool hours are 8 am to noon on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Our time together includes the traditional Montessori-based work cycle, independent and collaborative learning in Montessori-based work, whole group instruction through music, dance, and drama, a snack time, and outdoor play on our new playground.
We follow the Cherokee County Schools’ calendar, located here.
We are located in the spacious, newly renovated lower level of the FUMC sanctuary building at 73 Valley River Avenue in downtown Murphy, NC.
The cost per child is $290/month plus an annual non-refundable supplies fee of $125.
The supplies fee is due with your acceptance to hold your slot for the fall or at the time of enrollment if enrolling mid-year.
Tuition is monthly and due on the first of each month.
An application fee of $25 is due with your application and is non-refundable.
FUMC has created a Designated Fund to supply partial or full scholarships as needed. Applications can be found below and will be reviewed by the FUMC Children’s Center Scholarship Committee for consideration.
Bridget Rue Esterhuizen is a certified, experienced educator with 20 years in Education. She earned a BA in Elementary Education from St. Norbert College (Wisconsin) and an MFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Idaho.
Bridget has taught every grade level from preschool to college. Before moving to Murphy, NC, two years ago, Bridget was the Director of the Theatre Program at Davis and Elkins College, WV, and Assistant Professor of Theater.
Currently a mother of two small children, ages 6 and 4, she has focused on full-time parenthood, which prompted her interest in being on the team to form this preschool. Bridget is also a professional actor, musician, and vocalist. Bridget is excited to serve the FUMC Children’s Center’s goal of providing a part-time Montessori-based preschool option for families in our community!
A retired educator with more than 30 years in the classroom, Joann Moore brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to FUMC’s Children’s Center.
Joann holds degrees in Early Childhood Education from Tift University and Mercer University Atlanta where she earned her Masters.
She taught elementary school for thirty-one years in the third, fourth, and fifth grades. After retirement, Joann continued teaching as a long-term substitute in kindergarten and first grade classrooms. She also has experience as a professional nanny for children from one to five years old. Joann is excited to be back in the classroom teaching our preschoolers.
To complete an application form and pay the $25 fee, click here.
If you are enrolling after the start date of the school year, please send an email to our preschool director (above) to let her know you’ve applied. Special policies related to rolling enrollment are discussed in the parent handbook (see link below).
For information on scholarships and financial aid applications, please click on this link, then download and fill out the form and return it to the FUMC Church Office. Financial Aid is not available for rolling enrollment; financial aid deadlines are before the start of the school year. However, you may apply for the following year when it opens again.
For more information about our curriculum and a copy of the Parent Handbook: FUMC Children’s Center Parent Handbook
Below is a link for the Cherokee County school calendar (which is what we follow for all school holidays, starts, ends, and closures) and a wonderful document by Simone Davies, a Montessori Educator, that can be a resource for you as a guide at home. Thank you for your interest in being part of our learning community!
Thanks! You may email the preschool director if you’d like to help our school. To donate, please go to the church donations page and click on the preschool donations button.
We recognize that there will be a continuum of potty independence for the children who are enrolled. We will give children some assistance with wiping and navigating the bathroom setup until they are independent.
But, at the minimum, we require that each child:
We expect there may be occasional accidents for younger children as they adjust to routines and separation from their caregivers and especially in the first few weeks.
If your child fits this description, then they are probably ready to be enrolled!
Yes, you may apply to reserve a spot on our waitlist.
We follow the state-mandated guidelines of a ratio of 1 teacher for every 9 children and a classroom limit of 18 total children. We have two teachers with the children at all times.
Yes and yes. All questions about the daily routine are also answered in our handbook. (see the link above)
At this time, we do not. However we do encourage you to vaccinate your child and keep their vaccinations up to date including COVID boosters.
After you apply and pay the application fee, please email the director to set up a conversation or interview. The director will then email you with next steps.
Yes. Just apply using the application link above. Any child too young to enroll will be kept on a waitlist associated with their application in the order it was received.
