At the conclusion of the school year, work immediately began at the former Madison Elementary building in Filer Township in preparation for the relocation of the Manistee Early Childhood Center programming from Jefferson Elementary. As the summer has progressed, this work has met some challenges.

Although we would like to be reporting otherwise, we will continue the Manistee Early Childhood Center programming at Jefferson Elementary for the beginning of the 2025/26 school year. Because work at the new location is not yet complete, we believe meeting state licensing requirements for this new facility prior to the beginning of the school year will not be attainable. The Jefferson Elementary facility is currently compliant with licensing requirements; therefore, we can continue offering early childhood services at that building while final preparations are made at our new space.

The delay of this move will keep all preschool and kindergarten students at the Jefferson Elementary building, as well as before and after care services until we are able to finalize the new space and arrange for the move of our classrooms. We are working closely with the construction superintendent to bring this project to completion and to confirm a date for the move. Additional details will be shared as they become available.

In addition to our preschool, kindergarten and before and after care programming, we are excited to announce that we will be adding a Begindergarten, or early 5s program as well as infant & toddler care programs. Please reach out to us or visit our website if you would like more information about these offerings.

As always, we extend gratitude to our staff for their dedication to our early childhood programs and their support and flexibility as we transition to this new space and grow the services we offer to our community.

We are excited to share the new space with you once it is complete. Renovations are being made to classrooms, playgrounds, and other amenities to provide space scaled for our youngest learners. We feel this configuration will welcome our newest Mariners and their families to the MAPS district, serving as an easily accessible and very friendly start to their learning experience.

PreK for All is a play-based learning program. While “play-based” might sound less serious or less academic, the opposite is true. Current brain research shows that purposeful, guided play is one of the most effective ways for young children to build foundational skills in reading, math, and social development.

Our educators design structured, intentional learning experiences through play, with clear goals and outcomes. This includes:

• Hands-on learning centers
• Nature-based learning and movement to support focus and regulation
• Role-play and storytelling to build language and social skills
• Teacher-guided exploration that connects curiosity to real-world knowledge

Families needing morning PreK for 4-year-olds may now enroll in GSRP at no cost.
If you prefer a paid model, Rising Mariner sessions supporting a typical 4-year-old’s development are available afternoons M/W or T/Th for $140/week.

We encourage you to connect with Mrs. Ludwig or Mrs. Zajac to find the best fit for your child’s learning needs.

This program is free for all eligible families that enroll by June 30.

Yes. Just as before, the before and after school programs will be available for the 2025/26 school year based upon the following fee structure:

Morning Care for 5–12-year-olds: 7 am to start of school 

After School Care for 5–12-year-olds: End of school day to 5:30. Notification of schedule required two weeks in advance.

Fees for this programming are shared in the chart above on this page.