Trinity Lutheran School in Lincoln, Nebraska: Our Preschool Experience

As fate would have it, we bought a house within very close walking distance of one of the oldest private institutions in the city of Lincoln--Trinity Lutheran School. Two of our daughters attended preschool at Trinity Lutheran School from 2008 to 2010, and we are eager to send our son there this fall.

Why did we choose Trinity Lutheran School for our children? Initially, we enrolled our first daughter there because they had openings for pre-kindergarten students and the campus was conveniently located in our neighborhood. We also liked that there would be biblical input as well as academic skills taught. Each of our children finished their year of preschool with a solid spiritual, social, and academic foundation that prepared them well for kindergarten.

The school has a two-tiered pricing system, which depends on whether families are faithful members of a Lutheran church or not. Lutherans get a discount. As non-Lutherans, we will pay a monthly tuition of $150 for three half-days a week of pre-kindergarten instruction for the 2011-2012 school year. This is comparable to preschool tuition at most other schools in Lincoln. The class sizes at Trinity fluctuate from year to year, but there is a cap on the number of students, depending on the size of the room. Besides a certified teacher, there is also a teaching assistant for each preschool class.

Other features that we like about Trinity Lutheran School are the nurturing care students receive from the teachers and the flexibility they offer for which days a child may attend. We opted to depart from the standard Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule and picked Tuesday-Thursday-Friday instead. Many families who have both parents working opt to send their children to preschool five days a week.

As for how caring the teachers are, after just a few weeks, it is obvious that the heart, soul, and mind of each student matters a great deal. By the end of the year, both our daughters had grown to love and admire their teacher tremendously. From her they learned to write the letters of the alphabet and to tell the story of Christ's resurrection. On the last day of school, their teacher was in tears as she said good-bye to each of her beloved students.

As for what the preschoolers experience, there is an invigorating mix of hands-on crafts and learning activities that include reading, math, science, bible stories, and a field trip almost every month. There is also morning recess and indoor free time to play. Overall, the atmosphere is relaxed and positive. Our daughters' teacher would often give parents a quick report on how the morning went at pick up time. I appreciated the warmth and individual care they demonstrated on a daily basis.

One aspect that took getting used to was the dynamic of being outsiders. Since many of the students are Lutheran but we are not, we were unaccustomed to some of the church and school traditions that we experienced. But by the second semester, most of the unfamiliarity had dissipated. We learned to ask questions when we were not sure what to do. The teachers and staff were so friendly and helpful that any awkward moments or uncertainties were eventually overcome.

Based on our preschool experiences, I unreservedly recommend Trinity Lutheran School to people we know and meet. The school offers quality education that gives children a solid spiritual and academic foundation, all in a very nurturing, personal environment. We wish we could continue to send our children there for kindergarten and beyond, but we are thankful for the Christian influence and the love of learning that was instilled during that very formative year of preschool there.

Futher information can be found at the school's website:
Trinity Lutheran Educational Center