Introduction/specifics

St. Michael's Kindergarten is a family-friendly facility located in the heart of Kressbronn. We currently care for approximately 80 children between the ages of 2 and 6 in four kindergarten groups. One of the four groups serves as an entry-level group, caring for children aged 2-4. Our team consists of dedicated educators who work with passion and expertise.
Our sponsor is the Catholic Church of St. Mary Help of Christians in Kressbronn.

Rooms

The kindergarten consists of three large group rooms, one small group room, several adjoining rooms, and a large, divisible garden.

Art Studio
This bright room offers a variety of opportunities for creative work, both in guided work in small groups and for individual children during free play time. There's room here for their own ideas; the children have free access to materials and can work independently.

Activity Room
Children always enjoy being active. In this room, they have the opportunity to indulge their need for movement and to interact with each other across groups. This addresses not only motor skills but also social development.

Kitchen/Bistro
This is where the children's daily lunch is served. Children who take advantage of our extended opening hours have the opportunity to order lunch through Mensa Max. This is delivered by a regional caterer and distributed to the children by our housekeeper. Our kitchen is regularly used for cooking activities with the children.

Garden
The house has a large garden that can be divided into sections. In the front area, there are several play structures for children ages three and up. A large sand pit with a water pump forms the undisputed centerpiece of the garden. In the back garden, play structures for younger children and a small vegetable garden provide a retreat for the little ones.

Daily Schedule

Drop-off time: 7:00-9:00 a.m.

Daily schedule for the green, red, and blue groups:
 After the morning greeting, the child registers with their photo in their home group. They then have the opportunity to register in different rooms around the house, depending on their interests, and visit them or play in the group room (free play time). There are free activities during the morning that the child can participate in, as well as scheduled activities that every child in the group participates in.
 Open snack time starting at 7:00 a.m. This gives them the opportunity to decide for themselves when and with whom they want to have breakfast, which brings with it a great sense of self-determination and personal responsibility.
 Depending on the weather, there is a group cleanup and daily circle time, followed by garden time.
11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Pick-up time

Daily schedule for the yellow group:
7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Drop-off time
Since the children in the yellow group are younger, they spend more time in their group room and only go to the adjoining rooms when accompanied by a teacher. However, they are very happy to visit the other groups, and the yellow group is also open to children from other groups at any time.
9:00 a.m.: Morning circle followed by breakfast
Free play time, walks, or garden time
11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Pick-up time

For all groups:
12:15 p.m.: The children go to lunch together
Followed by free play time until 2:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.: Pick-up time for the preschool children

Food

The two childcare models, 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (VÖ30) or 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (VÖ35), offer the option of eating lunch at the kindergarten. Parents can choose whether to provide their children with a second snack or order lunch for their child through Mensa Max, which is delivered fresh to the kindergarten daily and prepared by our housekeeping staff. Part of the cost of lunch is subsidized by the municipality.

Basics

Our kindergarten is intended to be a place of encounter where children can get to know each other, build friendships, deepen relationships, and lay the foundation for social interaction.

We approach the child as a reliable caregiver and focus on their interests. The emotional bond with the children is important to us so that they feel accepted and safe. From this security, they can face the challenges of everyday life. The children need time and loving support from their parents and educational staff. Only then can they settle in well, develop freely, explore, and discover.

The acquisition of practical skills for everyday life is very important to us. We support them in meeting the challenges of everyday life independently. Through growing independence, the children develop into responsible and self-determined individuals.

The goal of our work is holistic education and the desire to give every child the opportunity to be optimally prepared for life. Therefore, regular, pedagogically guided activities in small groups are an important part of our daily kindergarten routine (preschool work, picture book viewing, factual discussions, creative activities, and much more). These are based, among other things, on the contents of the orientation plan and the Christian calendar.