About Us
Welcome to Grace Education Ministries (GEM). We are happy to have your family as part of ours. GEM is a non-profit community service located within Grace United Methodist Church (GUMC). It is part of the church’s ministry with children. GEM is licensed by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration and meets State and County requirements and regulations for health, safety, nutrition and program. GEM has an opendoor policy for all families. Parents are free to stop in at any time during normal business hours. We are NAEYC accredited, Level 4 Paths to Quality provider. The Division of Family and Children:1-317-232-4468, and Child Care Information Line: 1-877-511-1144.
We believe a child’s love for learning begins with positive early learning experiences. Our objective is to provide safe, loving care that will enable young children to feel secure and comfortable while away from parents and home. It is also to provide developmentally appropriate activities within a Christian environment. The program at GEM includes quiet as well as active times to ensure positive mental, physical and emotional, social and spiritual growth and development. Our program is planned to prepare children for school by providing activities for listening and following directions, activities for getting along in a group, and by providing many language and learning experiences. Our program incorporates the zoo-phonics program as well as weekly themes. We include prayer before meals and a weekly chapel. Through these activities, we expose the children to a loving God, and to Jesus, who sets an example of how we should treat others.
GEM serves children between the ages of infant and six who may benefit from our program. Enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis, but children are admitted any time during the year, provided the total enrollment has not been met. GEM will not admit or maintain any child whose needs obviously cannot be met, or whose behavior would be dangerous for the children or staff in the center.
Tuition Policy:
Tuition fees are due weekly/monthly depending on the program/schedule of your child. If payment is not made for the current week/month, a $20.00 late fee will be added to your account. If your account falls more than 2 weeks/1 month behind your child will not be admitted until the account is paid in full. Your tuition is what reserves your child’s spot. Therefore, full fee is due regardless of holiday, illness, days off and building closures. Please remember that our school expenses continue when one or more children are absent. Part time children that need care on an unscheduled day may pay for an additional day if there is space available and on a first come first serve basis. We do not allow children to switch days. If you need care on a day your child does not attend, we require the request in writing and will let you know if space is available. All declined credit cards will be charged a fee of $3.50.
