Blessed Redeemer Church pioneers Christian-based preschools in Brandon

By: 
Jill Meier, Journal editor

Submitted photol 

These youngsters were some of the first students to attend Blessed Redeemer Preschool. Those identified in the photo are, Emily Gabur (yellow shirt, from left), Lauren Clements and Aaron Bauer; (table behind) Jordan Ossefort, Kory Scholten, Jenny Hessman, Julia Blue; (on opposite side of table) Kaylee Anderson and Kassidy Hebb. Teaching the students were Fay (McClanahan) Fischer and teacher’s aide Dawn Ossefort.                          

Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

Proverbs 22:6

Michelle Ternus considers the approximate 1,400 youngsters that have graced the classrooms of Blessed Redeemer Lutheran Preschool over the last 25 years as “family.”

“We’re a big family,” emphasizes the preschool director, now in her 15th year in this role. “We try to build relationships with each family. We’re a tight group and we want all families to feel welcome and want them to know that we are there for them, and that it goes beyond the preschool.”

This Sunday, Blessed Redeemer invites the community to an open house birthday party to celebrate the preschool’s milestone. The 1 to 4 p.m. come-and-go party will offer performances by Phil Baker, balloon creations by Mr. Twister, inflatables and of course, birthday cake.

“We want to celebrate with the community so, everybody is invited,” Ternus said. “We want to thank the community for supporting us and helping us spread God’s joy.”

The Christian-based preschool was the first of several church-hosted preschools to be established in Brandon, welcoming its first students in September 1995. In this capacity, their mission was – and still continues – to offer curriculum and activities that allow each child to grow spiritually, emotionally, socially, physically, intellectually and creatively. 

Leading the organization of the preschool were Fay  (McClanahan) Fischer and Pastor Perry Bauer. The preschool opened that year with one class of 15 students. 

Kevin Callies, who attends Blessed Redeemer and serves on board of directors, said the preschool’s reputation and its staff have allowed the program to not only grow over the past 25 years, but flourish.

“At first we had a lot of growing pains,” Callies recalls. “When we started it, we did it to see how the community would support it, and the community has supported it. It’s probably the good reputation, good fundamentals and things like that.”

June Buehner, a charter member of the church, remembers that the congregation wasn’t initially sold on the idea of starting a preschool.

“They didn’t think that we would get very many students and that it would support itself,” recalled Buehner, who served as an educational assistant for about five years. “But after they had it for a year, they knew it was something that the members wanted and the community had an interest in, and after that, it blossomed from there.”

And “blossomed” it has. Blessed Redeemer Preschool has since grown to an enrollment of 80, divided into three classes of 4-year-olds and two classes of 3-year-olds, who attend 90 and 60 days, respectively, of class sessions during the schoolyear. At one time, Blessed Redeemer also offered a junior kindergarten program, but ended the program when the Brandon Valley School District moved to expand their junior kindergarten program.

Ternus said there was also discussion to offer before- and after-school programming, but found that need was being met through results of a survey they was conducted.

“There was interest,” Ternus said, “but not enough to make sure it wouldn’t fall on the responsibility of the church.”

Now well established, Callies said the congregation volunteers not only help to fill the need in the classroom, but graciously support it financially, too. 

“A lot of preschools, it’s hard to make money and stand on its own,” he said. “But our church members that are here, that is one of the things that helps it stay afloat. We don’t worry if it doesn’t break even because the church mission is to get the word of God to the children.”

Ternus remains grateful for the congregation’s ongoing support, both financially and spiritually, in addition to supplying volunteers when the need arises.

“Financially, we wouldn’t be able to do this without them and spiritually, without their prayers for our preschool to continue to succeed in spreading the word and sharing experiences with others,” Ternus said.

Brandon’s city transit bus program has also been a Godsend in helping to build the preschool numbers, and Ternus said without this service, their preschool wouldn’t be able to function.

“The transit system plays an integral part in getting the kids to and from daycare,” she said.

Staffed by three teachers, three educational assistants, Pastor Dan Deardoff and church secretary, Cathi Grape, the youngsters are in capable hands at the Biblically-based preschool.

“We want to love these kids up, and not only academically, but physically and socially, because there is more to the whole child than just one attribute,” Ternus said.

The kids “get messy” at Blessed Redeemer Preschool, Ternus said. They’ll paint with forks or drive trucks in mud or brown paint or paint their feet and walk across paper, for example.

The staff packs a lot into every 2.5-hour class session. Upon being greeted at the door by staff, the first 15 minutes is reserved for playtime, followed by circle time where they learn about calendars, days of the week, talk about the theme and letter of the week, sing songs and sometimes read a book. Next, the kids receive individual time with the teachers at stations where the focus is on the kids’ fine motor skills, math or science, and the like. 

Then it’s off to chapel, where Pastor Deardoff, Ternus or teacher Kami Talcott share the day’s message. Often times, there’s a puppet show or hands-on learning activity, and singing.

“The crazy thing is we start singing Christmas songs in October so they’re ready (by December),” Ternus said.

Their learning time continues with large motor skills activities outdoors or in the church gymnasium, where the kids ride tricycles and Big Wheels, shoot baskets and play on the gymnastics mats. Snack time and Kid of the Kingdom time follows. Each preschooler is named “Kid of the Kingdom” for one week during the school year and are made to feel special with a bulletin board dedicated solely to them. The youngster’s family provides the class snack for the week and visits the classroom for “show and tell.”

“I always feel bad for the last kid,” Ternus said, as each child excitedly looks forward to their turn to be the “Kid of the Kingdom.” 

A time of sharing closes out their school day.

Two of Buehner’s granddaughters, Shelby and Julia Fray, both attended Blessed Redeemer Preschool. 

“It helped with their stepping stone into the community,” Buehner said, “and I was so fortunate to a part of this at the very beginning. I loved being one of the helpers there because I got to see these little kids’ minds work and how excited they got. They wanted to absorb so many things and they lit up when they heard the Bible stories and about Jesus, and they wanted more.”

Buehner also served a volunteer, helping with registration, Christmas programs and reading to the kids.

“When they feel loved and accepted – and especially loved in Christ – they feel loved,” she added. “And it’s very important for people to know that their child is loved very much.”

Each year, Ternus said her heart fills with joy as the youngsters perform their Christmas program. 

“It’s joyful to see the kids excited to sing about Jesus,” she said. “And you never know who’s going to do what.”

She also relishes in the end-of-the-year graduation ceremonies. 

“Coming in, they’re shy and then all of a sudden they are up there performing and proclaiming Jesus’ love and you can see their growth,” she said.

Although 75 percent of families whose youngsters are enrolled at the preschool are not members of Blessed Redeemer, Ternus said 78 of those kids have been baptized in the Lutheran faith since the preschool opened.

“It’s exciting to see their families grow closer to God,” she said. “We’re thankful these families support Christian education whether they are members of the church or not, as it makes our community a better place to live.”

Adds Callies, “That’s always the goal, and this has been a really good church mission for us.”

Ternus said one of the most difficult moments in the preschool’s 25-year history was the tragic drowning of 3-year-old Luke Melius. Ternus said they approached the tragedy from the Christian aspect, explaining to the preschoolers that Luke is in heaven with Jesus.

“Knowing that we had God’s love and strength during that time brought us hope, and knowing that we will see him again and that he is in a better place,” she said. “And we gave the kids lots of extra love.”

Luke’s parents, Rick and Katie, continue to remember their son each year by gifting every 4-year-old preschooler with “The Story Bible” and a Catechism, in which Katie handwrites a special message to every child.

With a continual waiting list, Ternus and staff dream of a new preschool. But unless “someone wins the lottery,” Ternus said they remain thankful for the space the church provides them.

Staff turnover has been minimal in the preschool’s 25-year existence. Prior to Ternus, only two others have filled the director’s shoes: Marlys Ailts and Tina Lenz.

In most instances, children who attend preschool, such as Blessed Redeemer’s program, have an easier transition into pre-kindergarten and kindergarten. Ternus said they’ve been told by Brandon Valley educators that preschoolers are more prepared to move on to the next level.

“Our church has really stood behind it and in spreading God’s love and Word out to the community for the kids’ educational journey,” Ternus said.

 

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