Ortega Kids

At Ortega Church, we’re creating an environment where kids belong – one that provokes the discovery of God’s character in young hearts and minds.

We believe in partnering with parents to disciple your children.

FIRST TIME AT ORTEGA CHURCH?

Welcome!

For more information contact the Church Office

Info@OrtegaChurch.org or 904-389-5556

BIRTH TO PK 4

(Nursery: 6 weeks – 4 years (PK 4)

Preschool Building Room 15

Birth to PK 4

We want to help you provide your children with their first impression of their loving heavenly Father. Our nurturing caregivers blend bible stories, activities, games and music to show kids that learning about God’s love can be fun and exciting! We want your children to know:

God made Me!
God loves Me!
Jesus wants to be my friend forever!

SUNDAY MORNINGS:
10:15 – 11:45

K - 5TH GRADE

K – 2nd Grade: Education Building Room 2

3rd – 5th Grade: Education Building Room 3

Our Sunday morning program is designed to inspire discovery and instill three basic truths into the hearts of children, as modeled by Jesus in Luke 2:52 (Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man):

I can trust God no matter what.
I need to make the wise choice. How does God’s Word fit into my life?
I should treat others the way I want to be treated.
I can build friendships that will last.

SUNDAY MORNINGS:
10:30 Children Check In – Education Building

Pick Up and Check Out – Education Building

FAMILY FIRST SERVICES:

Children Remain in Sanctuary to Worship With Family

On the first Sunday of each month, children (K–5) will join their families in the Sanctuary for a family-focused service. Worship Bags will be available in the Narthex, and kids who complete the activity can trade it in at Courtyard Connect for a prize! These Sundays help children experience communion, grow comfortable in worship, and feel part of the whole church family.

FAQ

ORTEGA KIDS 2026

SPECIAL EVENTS

REGISTER HERE

CHILI COOK-OFF FELLOWSHIP LUNCH!

RSVP at the button above.

Our next All-Church Fellowship event will take place
on Sunday, February 22, 2026 after the worship service in the
Fellowship Hall! We’re excited to host a Chili Cook-Off!

Bring your best recipe! Enter your best chili in the cook off or just come enjoy lunch, vote for your favorites, and connect with our church family with food, faith, and fellowship!

UPDATE of CHILI COOK-OFF.gif

We are always looking for new recruits! Do you like having fun on Sundays? Do you enjoy being questioned by children and finding the answers or attempting to find the answers? Do have a heart for God and want to share your talents then Ortega Kids Crew wants you! If teaching isn’t your thing, that’s OK! We welcome all talents and you may have the missing piece.

Learn how you can be a part of our children’s ministry:

kids@ortegachurch.org

The mission of Ortega Playschool is to provide a loving, positive, Christian environment in which to learn and play. We strive to promote emotional, physical and intellectual growth in each of our children in order for them to develop to their full potential.

Child Ages

Our children range in ages from 6 months to 4 years.Classes offered are:

Babies, Toddlers, Twos, Threes
Pre-Kindergarten (Part of the State of Florida VPK program)

Class placement is determined by date of birth as of September 1st.

Our Families

Our families come to us from the surrounding neighborhood and as far away as Oakleaf, Nocatee, and Middleburg. We are truly a diverse community and work together to collect for several mission projects each year.As a group we enjoy school wide activities such as Open House evening events, Friendship Chapel, and a Family Picnic, to name a few. We also have offer the opportunity for our families to join the Ortega United Methodist Church community for special events like Christmas Movie Night, Trunk or Treat, and Parenting classes and Bible Studies especially for parents.

Our Faculty

Ortega Playschool has a dedicated and loving faculty of exceptional Christian women in all ages and stages of life. Many of our teachers have been here for 10 or more years and some as long as 20 plus years with the school. From Mothers to Grandmothers, our teachers are here for the love of children and teaching and of serving the Lord by caring for his most special little ones.All faculty and staff are screened, finger printed and thoroughly background checked as required by the provisions of our license with the Department of Children and Families. We require continuing education hours each year from our entire faculty. Nearly all staff are CPR and First Aid certified. Staff members hold AA, undergraduate or post graduate degrees and all have taken a forty hour training course in child care and education as well as a ten hour course in emergent literacy.

Learning for Life

The ultimate goal of Ortega Playschool is to instill a lifelong love of learning in each child by preparing them for a successful transition into the public or private school environment. It is important to address the whole child when thinking about curriculum therefore we use various approaches to learning to encourage curiosity, initiative, persistence, and problem solving. Alphabet recognition, print awareness, early writing and numeracy are just a part of the daily routine. Daily music and chapel Wednesdays make each week special and are an opportunity to share God’s love. For more detailed information about specific curriculum in place please contact us in the Playschool office.

Hours & Programs

Ortega Playschool operates on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday: August through May. We follow the Duval County school calendar as closely as possible. We are closed during the summer.– Children in the 3 and 4 year old classes attend school all three days of the week.- Children Babies through Twos may choose to come 1, 2, or all three days a week.

Hours:

Morning Care: 8-9am
Babies through 3’s classes: 9am-1pm
Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) 9am-2pm
Tot Spot (for VPK siblings) 1pm-2pm
Stay and Play (after school care for children in 2’s classes and up) 1pm-3pm

Pricing

The 4 year old class tuition can be paid with a VPK voucher from the State of Florida regardless of financial need. For a list of tuition and registration fees for all other classes please contact the Playschool office.The Playschool offers both before school and after school care for children in our two year old classes and older. We also offer a program called Tot Spot for all siblings of children in our VPK (Four year old) Pre-Kindergarten class.For a list of fees for these programs please contact the school office.

Registration

Registration for the upcoming school year takes place each year in mid-January. School tours are available during that same time or by special appointment which can be made by calling the Playschool office.

Ortega Playschool

4807 Roosevelt BoulevardJacksonville, Florida 32210904-387-0749ortegaplayschool@gmail.comLicense number: C04DU0323

Learn More

Children’s Ministry Leadership & Service Team

We always welcome volunteers in our Children’s Ministry! Adult volunteers are required to complete an application, consent to a background check, and attend Child Youth and Protection Policy training.

Sunday Morning Nursery: Help babies and toddlers feel loved and safe while planting seeds of God’s love and truth.

Sunday Morning Kid’s: Build relationships with children and help them build relationships with each other.

Greeter/Check-in – Nursery or Kids: The first person a family meets when they arrive have the ability to set the tone for each child and their family. It’s an opportunity to make kids feel seen, cared for and safe.

Student Leaders: Teenage volunteers serve as assistants to our adult leaders, engaging with children or preschoolers, helping teach lessons, leading activities, and acting as role models for younger children.

Prep Team: Our prep team helps make our Sunday morning program happen by preparing the supplies needed.

Tech Team: Help the flow of information from our Ortega Kid’s ministry get out to our church families.

Event Team and Substitutes: Many of our volunteers serve on a temporary or as-needed basis during holidays, special events or when another volunteer is sick or on vacation.

For more information contact:

Kids@OrtegaChurch.org or 904-389-5556

Ortega Kids

Pre-K through 4th Grade

Ortega Kids