Welcome!

At St. Mark’s Nursery School and Kindergarten, we honor each person’s birthright to love, learn, and express themselves. In our aptly named Milkweed, Chicory, Clover, Dandelion and KinderGarDen classes, each child is accepted for who they are, lovingly tended to, and encouraged to bloom. St. Mark’s children grow socially, emotionally, cognitively, and physically as they develop relationships, explore their own creativity and wonder, and take risks within safe environments designed for them.

We believe that a young child’s work is play. Through play, and supported by intentional and loving caregivers, children engage in experiential learning. Within these experiences, they have opportunities to strengthen important aspects of their disposition such as curiosity, resilience, and empathy- building blocks for happiness and intellectual growth. Children learn about who they are and how they wish to engage with the world around them. We invite you to read more about how foundational play is for learning here.

In our community, mistakes or mishaps are embraced as opportunities to learn. Conflicts are accepted by teachers as a part of life. Children are supported during conflict with empathy and an understanding of child development and brain development. With help, when needed, to identify problems, communicate, and find solutions, children develop the foundational skills necessary for healthy relationships later in life. Teachers trust children during this process and as a result, children learn to trust themselves and others. As Mr. Fred Rogers once said, “There are three ways to ultimate success. The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.”

After all that we do here at St. Mark’s to build connections in our classrooms, in our relationship based parenting classes, and during our yearly community events, families often tell us that they leave our program with much more than they had anticipated upon enrolling. They leave with a greater trust in themselves and their children, and with a larger family of friends who see them for their best.

We’re in this together and we can’t wait to meet you!

Kate Morris Director


Since 1990, St. Mark's has maintained accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). As the nation's leading voice in early childhood education, NAEYC requires that their accreditation be reviewed and renewed every five years. This complex process involves self-study, evaluation, and site visits from NAEYC validators.  We are excited to report that St. Mark's was commended in all 10 standard areas, meeting 100% or more of the criteria in 9 areas!! We are thrilled that what we do for children and their families is recognized as excellent by the most prestigious national early childhood organization. For more information about NAEYC accreditation, visit their website: www.naeyc.org.

St. Mark’s Nursery School and Kindergarten is a not-for-profit community service offered by St. Mark’s United Methodist Church of Bloomington, Indiana. We welcome children of every race, religion, nationality and ability. We do not teach specific religious doctrine but focus on developing caring relationships and the experience of wonder in the world around us.