Fayetteville First UMC Preschool
Fayetteville First Preschool provides a caring learning environment grounded in Christian beliefs. Using developmentally appropriate practices, we aim to help children grow spiritually, socially and physically in order to create a firm foundation for future success.
TESTIMONIALS FROM OUR FAMILIES
“The half-day, play-based program aligned perfectly with our values and our daughter thrived under the care of her teachers, with whom she still maintains a strong connection. We feel incredibly fortunate to have had such a positive experience!” – The Minsker Family
“It was a beautiful experience, the environment was safe, warm and everyone was treated like family. The teachers were absolutely attentive, kind and caring. The teachers were absolutely attentive, kind and caring.” – The Holness Family
“We LOVED our time at FFUMC! Our son was always excited to go and even sad on days off. Their play-based approach is so wonderful and all of the staff were fantastic and so loving and kind… They also created so many wonderful events for us to connect with other parents, staff, and the community.” – The Ainu’u Family
“We have loved our experience so far, the teachers and leadership really have hearts for children and make it easy to be an involved parent, and I love how my daughter has grown and loves going to preschool. This preschool will always hold a special place in my heart and we look forward to sending all of our children here.” – The Beemon Family
- Contact us and get to know a bit about our program! You can reach out by phone (678-263-8603), email (FayettevilleFirstPreschool@gmail.com), or through our INQUIRE NOW option.
- Schedule a tour! Tour our facilities, meet our staff, and get to see what a day in the life at Fayetteville First UMC Preschool looks like!
- Submit your application! Applications for admission are accepted throughout the year, provided there is availability in the program.
- Receive admissions decision! You’ll receive your admissions decision after up to a week long determination period. Once a decision has been communicated, our office will reach out with the next steps.
- Become a part of the Fayetteville First UMC Preschool Family! After you’ve completed the final enrollment steps, get ready to make some lifelong memories! At Fayetteville First UMC Preschool, our mission is to nurture each child’s social, physical, and early learning development through age-appropriate experiences while sharing God’s love in a caring Christian environment. We consider it an immense honor and a holy calling to get to work together with your family building a firm foundation for future success!
Email us at fayettevillefirstpreschool@gmail.com
Call the Preschool Office at (770) 461-4313 ext. 1240
Call or text the Preschool mobile line at (678) 263-8603
Check out our program on social media!
Facebook Link: facebook.com/fayettevillefirstpreschool
Instagram Link: instagram.com/ffumc.preschool
Q: What is play-based learning?
A: Play-based learning in early childhood education is an approach where children learn through hands-on, meaningful play experiences that are guided by their interests and development. Through play, children explore ideas, practice social skills, build language, develop problem-solving abilities, and strengthen motor skills while making sense of the world around them. Teachers intentionally design environments and activities that encourage exploration and curiosity, supporting learning goals while allowing children the freedom to discover, create, and grow at their own pace.
Q: What is included in Fayetteville First UMC Preschool’s curriculum?
A: In a typical school day, we offer many varied types of activities: group activities, at least an hour of outdoor play for all age levels, snack and lunch times, individual free play with open-ended materials and dramatic play materials, as well as a rotating specials schedule (Music, STEAM, Gym, Library, and Chapel).
Q: What age groups are classes offered for?
A: Fayetteville First UMC Preschool offers classes for One Year Olds through Four Year Olds. Students qualify for the class based on their age as of September 1st of the current school year.
Q: When are classes held?
A: At Fayetteville First UMC Preschool, we’re in school Mondays through Thursdays from 9a to 1p.
Q: How big are the class sizes?
A: While we specialize in smaller class sizes, each class’ capacity varies based on a few factors (room square footage, age of students, etc). Our largest class size is at capacity with 12 students for our Four Year Old class while our smallest class capacity is 6 students with our One Year Old class.
Q: How do we apply?
A: To begin the application process, reach out to our office at (678) 263-8603 or INQUIRE NOW to schedule a tour and begin the process.
Q: When can we apply?
A: Public enrollment opens on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026 for the 2026-2027 academic year. Applications for admission are accepted throughout the year, provided there is availability in the program. We encourage early application for fall admission as the enrollment slots are limited. Application fees are non-refundable and do not guarantee acceptance.
Q: Does Fayetteville First UMC Preschool offer tours?
A: We offer tours during our school week (Monday through Thursday) to prospective families to show you a glimpse of what life at Fayetteville First UMC Preschool looks like! You and your family will tour our facilities and outdoor play area, classrooms, and get to meet a few teachers and current students.
| Your Student’s Birthday | Application Fee | ActivitIes Fee | Monthly Tuition | Annual Tuition |
| 9/1/24-8/31/25 (2 day) | $275 | $50 | $275 | $2,750 |
| 9/1/23-8/31/24 (3 day) | $300 | $50 | $300 | $3,000 |
| 9/1/23-8/31/24 (4 day) | $325 | $50 | $325 | $3,250 |
| 9/1/22-8/31/23 (4 day) | $325 | $50 | $325 | $3,250 |
| 9/1/21-8/31/22 (4 day) | $325 | $50 | $325 | $3,250 |
Philosophy and Mission
Overall goals and objectives:
- Provide time for interaction among children to practice emotional regulation, self-control, communication, cooperation, and other social skills.
- Provide experiences designed to develop motor skills involving both large and small muscles.
- Provide informal opportunities to develop basic pre-learning skills in math, reading, writing, science, social studies, music, and art.
- Provide opportunities to succeed at tasks suitable for the individual developmental levels.
- Provide opportunities to hear about God’s love in an environment of Christian love.
Interested in learning more? INQUIRE NOW to set up a tour and see if we could be a good for your student’s educational journey!
About Our Director
Abby Lorence has been a part of the Fayetteville First UMC Preschool team since 2023, serving first as a music teacher, then assistant director, and, more recently, as the director. Abby found her mission in faith and play-based preschools at The Preschool at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church after graduating from Faulkner University with her Bachelor of Arts in Choral Music. Abby Lorence remains dedicated to cultivating supportive educational environments where every child is empowered to become capable, creative, curious, and compassionate.
About Our Assistant Director
Maryam Mahboob joined the Fayetteville First UMC Preschool team in 2024 as an assistant teacher and substitute. Maryam holds a master’s degree in Anthropology. With both classroom teaching experience and administrative experience as an Assistant Vice Principal, Maryam brings a balanced approach that has blessed our students, families, and staff members.
About Us
Fayetteville First UMC Preschool first opened its doors in 1987 with Jean Jones serving as our first Preschool Director. Operating first as a mother’s day out program, as the years went on, we’ve renewed our commitment to offer quality early childhood education as a part-time preschool program.
At Fayetteville First UMC Preschool, we help children reach their full potential by building positive relationships with our students, families, and community. We embrace the play-based philosophy, honoring the principle that play is the work of childhood. By using our knowledge of child development, we provide learning through play experiences that keep the children engaged and excited for more.
Our teachers cultivate environments and create activities that encourage children to develop motor skills and language skills, practice problem solving, and promote positive social interactions. Research has shown that the mastery of these skills is a strong indicator of future academic success. We believe that children learn best when they are invested in the task at hand. By working pre-academic skills into everyday play, we ensure our students are gaining the skills necessary for success in kindergarten, interacting with their peers, and beyond!
Our philosophy is grounded in Christian beliefs, and we seek to demonstrate Christ’s constant love so our children will feel safe, secure, and respected every day. While faith is at the heart of everything we do, we welcome students of all backgrounds, faiths, and denominations.