Bright Beginnings Preschool at Ankeny First United Methodist Church

Bright Beginnings Preschool at Ankeny First United Methodist Church Our preschool programs provide opportunities for a child to realize his or her own potential as a two, three, four, or five-year-old person.

Each program is specifically stuctured for the developmental age level of the child enrolled. The Ankeny First United Methodist Preschool is the result of the beginning efforts of Aileen Godell, a church member, who felt there was a need to reach out into the community to help meet the needs of children. Licensed by the State of Iowa, the four-year-old program has been in existence since 1964, and

the three-year-old program since 1981. Our three-year-old, four-year-old, and five-year-old programs provide meaningful preschool experiences in a learning center environment. We offer children a wide range of learning experiences which focus on themes that are central in the children's lives, such as community helpers, holidays, farm life, dinosaurs, colors, shapes, the five senses, and many other areas of interest. We are pleased to also offer a preschool program for toddlers. Parents' Morning Out is for families who wish to enroll their two-year-olds (or un-potty-trained three-year-olds) in a preschool environment 1-2 mornings a week. The first day of preschool is the Tuesday after Labor Day. Preschool typically follows the Ankeny School District calendar in regard to vacations and school closings.

Did you know Bright Beginnings Preschool has been serving Ankeny families since 1965?What began with the vision of churc...
06/08/2026

Did you know Bright Beginnings Preschool has been serving Ankeny families since 1965?

What began with the vision of church member Aileen Goodell to meet the needs of children in our community has grown into a ministry that has impacted generations of families.

Today, Bright Beginnings continues to provide a nurturing Christian environment where children learn, play, build friendships, and discover God's love.
💙 We are grateful to continue that mission today!

As we wrap up another wonderful year at Bright Beginnings Preschool, we want to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to our incredi...
05/14/2026

As we wrap up another wonderful year at Bright Beginnings Preschool, we want to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to our incredible staff who have loved, taught, encouraged, and cared for our children this year. 💛

Julie, Lucia, Amber, Erin, and Candice — each of you has been an amazing gift to our preschool families and church community. Thank you for the patience, creativity, joy, and compassion you bring each day. You have helped make Bright Beginnings a place where children are known, loved, and encouraged to grow.

We want to offer a special congratulations to Lucia as she begins an exciting new chapter pursuing her master’s degree. We are so proud of you and grateful for the impact you’ve made at Bright Beginnings! 🎓✨

We also want to thank Candice for the care and kindness she has shown our students and families. We wish her all the best in what’s ahead and are grateful for the ways she has blessed our preschool community. 💐

As we look ahead to the 2026/2027 school year, we are excited that:
🍎 Erin will serve as lead teacher for our 3-year-old and 4-year-old classes (5 days/week)
🌟 Amber will continue teaching our PMO classes and co-teaching 3-year-olds
📚 Julie will continue serving as Preschool Director

We are also excited to welcome new families! We currently have openings for the 2026/2027 school year, and scholarships are available for qualifying families.

Thank you to all of our Bright Beginnings families for another beautiful year of learning, laughter, and love. 💙

Bright Beginning Preschool Art Show TONIGHT, 5-7pm at our Uptown location. All are welcome to come and see the talent an...
05/07/2026

Bright Beginning Preschool Art Show TONIGHT, 5-7pm at our Uptown location. All are welcome to come and see the talent and enjoy mingling with one another. So much joy, celebration and learning in this event!!

Thank you to our chapel time volunteers! We have been blessed by your time with the children this year.
04/21/2026

Thank you to our chapel time volunteers! We have been blessed by your time with the children this year.

We believe every child deserves a place to grow, learn, and feel deeply loved. At Bright Beginnings Preschool, we create...
04/07/2026

We believe every child deserves a place to grow, learn, and feel deeply loved. At Bright Beginnings Preschool, we create a nurturing, faith-filled environment where children build confidence, curiosity, and friendships that last.
Registration for the 2026–2027 school year is now OPEN!

We also offer scholarship opportunities to help make preschool accessible for families. If cost is a concern, we encourage you to reach out—we would love to partner with you.

👉 Learn more & register: https://ankenyfirst.org/bbprograms
👉 Questions? Contact us anytime—we’re here to help!

Easter Egg Hunt with Wednesday PMO!!! So much FUN!!!
04/01/2026

Easter Egg Hunt with Wednesday PMO!!! So much FUN!!!

03/24/2026

We’re grateful for Erin Howard and the care she brings to our youngest learners! Erin holds an associate degree from DMACC, is currently pursuing her Early Childhood degree through UNI, and has 8+ years of experience working with children from infants through middle school. She is passionate about creating a nurturing, faith-filled environment where children feel safe, valued, and encouraged to grow in confidence and curiosity.
We’re so thankful for Erin and the love she shares with our Bright Beginnings families! 💛

📚 Enrollment is open for next year and SCHOLARSHIPS are available!
Learn more and register here: https://ankenyfirst.org/bbprograms

Amber Seiberling, 2 and 3 Day Teacher!We’re so thankful for Amber Seiberling and the care she brings to our classrooms e...
03/18/2026

Amber Seiberling, 2 and 3 Day Teacher!
We’re so thankful for Amber Seiberling and the care she brings to our classrooms each day! Amber has years of experience working with young children and loves helping them learn through creativity, music, and hands-on activities. She enjoys teaching ASL, arts and crafts, math, and Bible stories, and is passionate about helping every child feel known, loved, and encouraged as they grow. We are grateful for Amber’s heart for kids and the joy she brings to Bright Beginnings! 💛

📚 Enrollment is open for next year with SCHOLARSHIPS available! https://ankenyfirst.org/bbprograms

Lucia Arreola, 5 Day teacher! Lucia studied at the University of California, Irvine, is bilingual, and has experience as...
03/10/2026

Lucia Arreola, 5 Day teacher!
Lucia studied at the University of California, Irvine, is bilingual, and has experience as a teacher’s assistant and substitute teacher in Iowa. She is passionate about helping young children learn, grow, and experience compassion and faith each day. We’re so glad she is part of our Bright Beginnings team!

📚 Enrollment is open for next year with SCHOLARSHIPS available!
Learn more and register here: https://ankenyfirst.org/bbprograms

Address

206 SW Walnut Street
Ankeny, IA
50023

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 3:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 3:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 3:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 3:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 3:30pm

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