More Than a Nursery School
For generations, Grosse Pointe Nursery School has been a place where children are encouraged to explore, create, and grow in a safe, loving environment. We believe every child is uniquely created by God and deserves opportunities to discover the joy of learning while developing confidence, kindness, and independence.
Through meaningful play, engaging learning experiences, and caring relationships, we partner with families to build a strong foundation for kindergarten and beyond.
Our Mission
To come alongside parents in the nurturing, care, and education of their children by providing a Christ-centered, play-based learning environment that supports each child's social, emotional, intellectual, physical, and spiritual development.
What We Believe
❤️ Every Child Matters
We celebrate each child's unique gifts, personality, and learning style.
🌱 Learning Through Play
Children learn best by exploring, imagining, creating, and discovering.
We believe parents are a child's first teachers and value working together to support each
child's growth.
🤝 Partnership with Families
Christian values are woven into everyday experiences through kindness, respect, prayer, and love.
✝️ Faith in Action
Our Story
Grosse Pointe Nursery School has been serving children and families in the community for over 80 years. The story of GPNS began in the 1940s when Mrs. Madeline McCormick recognized a need for young children to have opportunities for social interaction and early learning. What began as a way to support her own son grew into something much bigger — a preschool created with the belief that children thrive when they are given a loving, engaging environment to learn and grow.
Ahead of her time, Mrs. McCormick established a program that focused on the whole child and the importance of early childhood experiences. The school was originally located on Jefferson Avenue before moving to 821 Vernier in Grosse Pointe Woods. The building itself carried a unique history, at one point serving as a boarding school for boys during the war and even including farm animals on the property. Mrs. McCormick also created a summer camp experience in Clarkston, giving children the opportunity to spend extended time learning and growing together outside of the classroom.
In December of 1983, John and Betty Lalich purchased the school and continued building upon its strong foundation. Under their leadership, GPNS grew. Enrollment expanded to more than 100 children, and the summer camp program on the school grounds became a beloved part of the school’s offerings.
In 1998, the Lalichs sold the property, and the Grosse Pointe Nursery School program was purchased by Crosspointe Christian Church, where it remains today. Since becoming part of Crosspointe, GPNS has continued to grow while preserving the heart of its original mission — providing children with a safe, nurturing, and engaging first school experience. Over the years, the school has expanded to better serve families through additional classroom space, facility improvements, new bathrooms, and updates throughout the building.
Today, Grosse Pointe Nursery School continues the legacy that began with Mrs. McCormick’s vision more than eight decades ago. We are committed to creating a place where children feel known, loved, and encouraged to grow academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. We are grateful for the generations of families who have been part of the GPNS story and look forward to continuing to serve our community for many years to come.