We are excited to announce we have "Recharged" Hope's Preschool & 4K with the addition of experienced educators. Fond du Lac School District veteran teacher Bob Mengert has been named Director of the program. Ashley Carus has transferred from the Oakfield school system to head up Hope’s 4K program.
After serving 15-years with the U.S. Air Force, Bob earned his bachelor’s degree in Management and a master’s degree in Education. He has over 14-years of teaching experience, educating fourth graders through college level students. He continues to teach part-time at Moraine Park Technical College. He also serves as the Deacon for Hope Lutheran Church.
Ashley, upon her graduation from Cardinal Stritch University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, substitute taught in a variety of school districts prior to accepting a full-time position at Oakfield Elementary where she taught Kindergarten for six years. She has also served as a teacher for Hope Lutheran Church’s Sunday School Program.
Stephanie Neff heads up the Hope Preschool program. She has seven years of preschool teaching experience. She also has 13-years of Sunday School teaching experience at Hope Lutheran Church.
For over 35 years, Hope Preschool & 4K has served the early educational needs of the Fond du Lac community. Children are provided an opportunity to learn and grown spiritually, physically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually. The school is licensed by the State of Wisconsin and governed by the Hope Lutheran Church Board of Early Childhood Education. It serves children of varied race, ethnic and religious origin.
Hope Preschool & 4K is home to Fond du Lac’s first outdoor classroom. The state licensed 4000-square-foot area features 10 developmentally appropriate activities for preschoolers. Activities include a music area for dancing, an art table for creating young artists, and a mixing area complete with a washing and ingredients table located under a large tree. Fine motor skills are enhanced in a 16-foot x 12-foot x 12-inch sand area surrounded by cut logs. Problem-solving is fun for children in the “messy materials” area with logs, branches, and leaves to create a fort. Walking on tree “cookies” is a highlight and once a “cookie” is turned over it becomes a new world of discovery. The flower and vegetable garden are complete with a magnifying glass for spying butterflies and bugs.
Research shows outdoor activities enhance brain development and boost the immune system resulting with academic progress in reading, writing, and science.
In today’s culture, it is unfortunate that children do not often play outside and are often plugged into iPads and tablets. Hope Preschool & 4K is blessed to have a nature classroom to compliment the traditional indoor classroom experience.
Hope Preschool & 4K has openings in both their preschool and 4-year-old kindergarten programs.
3-year-old Preschool*
2-day class: M.W – 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
*Now accepting registrations for Tuesday and Thursday class enrollments.
4-year-old Kindergarten
Morning class:
5 days/week – 8:20 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Afternoon class:
5 days/week – 12:30 p.m. to 3:10 p.m.
Optional Christian Education offered daily (15 minutes) at the end of the 4k class time.
Hope Preschool & 4K is located at 260 Vincent Street in Fond du Lac. Business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Contact Bob Mengert via e-mail; bmengert@lifeathope.org or by calling 920-921-5130 ext. 215 for further information.