_{Sonshine Preschool is a mission of First Baptist Church, located in McPherson, Kansas.}
_{Sonshine Preschool opened in 1983 and has been educating the young children of McPherson county ever since. Sonshine Preschool operates on the premise that every child is a unique creation of God and is deeply loved by Him. Our purpose is to provide an environment in which each child can grow toward development of his or her God-given potential. We offer a balanced curriculum designed to meet the needs of the preschool child in all 5 areas of his or her development: Intellectual, Social, Emotional, Physical, and Spiritual.}

Meet Our Teachers

Tabetha Boese

DIRECTOR/TEACHER

Tabetha has been a part of the Sonshine Family since 2001, when the oldest of her four children started attending Sonshine Preschool. In 2008 she joined our staff as the Teacher's Assistant, and in 2020 was promoted to Director/Teacher.

Tatem paulson

TEACHER'S ASSISTANT

Tatem is our new Teacher's Assistant for the 2024-2025 school year. Previously, she was a Special Education Para at Elyria, however, she has recently felt God calling her to Early Childhood Education. We couldn't be more excited to have her join the Sonshine Preschool Family.

Our Program

The time a child spends at Sonshine Preschool is carefully planned to include a variety of activities that exceed the standards of excellence for the great state of Kansas. Because the preschool experience is most likely your child’s first exposure to a structured education, we want it to be a good one for many reasons, but mostly because a happy, nurtured child is a learning child. At Sonshine Preschool, we plan a thematic curriculum to help children understand and retain discovered information. Under the framework of our theme, we encourage our preschoolers to learn primarily through exploratory play. Because we try to support learning as a process, rather than a project, much of the “work” your child accomplishes at school cannot be sent home. Our goal is to help your child build on learning experiences through role playing, imitation of life, cooperation, social interaction and hands-on activities. We post lots of pictures in our Parent Facebook Group to help keep you actively involved in our day.

Our Learning Centers

Literacy Center

This center allows children to explore letters — how letters look, how they compare to each other, how they combine to form words. Reinforcing letter identification and sounds.

Reading Center

A cozy spot set up in the classroom, with a variety of books available for the children to read. Books related to the theme, class-made books, big books, and interactive writing charts, are just some of the things that are included in the reading center.

Math Center

Kiddos use this center in preschool to learn more about shapes, colors, numbers, quantities, patterns, comparing amounts, putting objects in order by size and such.

Puzzles & Games Center

It’s always fun for the kiddos to work on puzzles or play games together. Fun, cooperative play!

Science Center

The science center in preschool helps the children learn to investigate the world around them. It gives them opportunities to use all five senses to discover many interesting, science-based activities.

Sensory Center

The sensory center in preschool helps kids focus in on (you guessed it!) their senses. This center might hold water, rice, beads, straws, dirt, dyed corn in a rainbow of colors, and so much more.

Art and Crafts Center

The purpose of this center in preschool is to let the kids explore their creativity. Art helps children learn about self-expression and creativity. Art projects are also a good way for children to develop fine motor skills and Improve their hand-eye coordination.

Building Center

Having a large spot set-aside for building and creating is an important part of early childhood classrooms. Building can include blocks, racetracks and cars, Lego (although sometimes people keep these in the math or fine motor area), and so many other creative building supplies. The children can have free reign to build whatever they wish, or they can build within certain guidelines. Sometimes I like to give a suggestion to the kids, then let them go.

Dramatic Play Center

A center just for pretend play, we refer to it as the home living center.
“Kitchen appliances”, a table, and chairs set the backdrop for this center. Some ideas for the home center are acting out favorite stories, running a flower shop, or creating coffee drinks in a coffee shop. We like to change it up with fun themes!

Writing Center

A place where students can practice the various stages of writing. Sometimes this center is “free writing”, with the kiddos deciding what to do. Other times, the activity is teacher-directed.