Child
Day Care Center
A
place for learning and caring for 30+ years.
Beth Cooper-Libby, Center Director
phone: (865) 524-3511
bclibby@churchstreetumc.org
Our
multicultural center operates as a mission of the church for children
two-years-old to Kindergarten. Because we also have
an adult care center at the church, we are able to offer intergenerational
activities. The center is governed by a board comprised of church members
and parent representatives and functions as a part of our Children's
Ministries and Program Council. Our scholarship fund, initiated in l986,
has assisted many children whose families were experiencing crises.
Our Mission
The Church Street
UMC's Child Day Care Center is part of a holistic ministry with children
through Church Street United Methodist Church. As an outreach ministry
of the church, it seeks to provide children of diverse economic and
cultural backgrounds with a quality program through which each child
and family is nurtured physically, socially, mentally, and spiritually
in a Christian environment.
Program
Our Child Care Center
- is open Monday
through Friday, 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
- serves a nutritious
lunch and a snack daily
- offers a 12-month
preschool program with space for 40 children who enroll as openings
occur during the year
- has been licensed
by the State of Tennessee since 1969
- is governed by
a board comprised of church members and parents of children enrolled
in our preschool
- follows Knox
County Schools' inclement weather policy.
Children are divided
into classrooms with limited enrollment where they participate in a
variety of activities. Teachers design their lesson plans around different
units offering a variety of age-appropriate, hands-on activities to
enhance each child's development including creative art, circle time
(sharing stories, songs, fingerplays), movement, music and learning
centers available in each room. While a daily routine is followed in
the classroom, every day brings new discoveries, achievements and joys!
Ethnic diversity
has played an integral role in the history of the Child Day Care Center
at Church Street United Methodist Church. Serving children from countries
around the world and many parts of the United States has provided opportunities
to celebrate our differences (in language, appearance and customs) as
well as our universal kinship and common needs.
At Church Street
UMC, children discover their individual uniqueness within a loving,
accepting environment. It is our hope that the children, who are our
future, will be tolerant, confident and respectful members of society
and that their preschool experience will have contributed to their wholeness.
Our preschool .
. .
- offers developmentally-appropriate
curriculum and activities designed to enhance each child's mental,
physical and social development
- includes regular
staff assessment of each child's individual development
- offers optional
classes in computer, swimming and gymnastics (for an additional fee)
- includes recreational
and educational field trips
- provides intergenerational
contact with older adults at the church's Kay Senior Care Center
- sponsors a parent
breakfast in the spring, open house in the fall and supports the whole
family by making them aware of family-enrichment opportunities
- seeks to offer
appropriate support and encouragement as parents make the center aware
of transitions, illness or other circumstances that families experience.
Enrollment
Enrollment is open
to all children from age 2 until they are ready
to enter Kindergarten. Children in our center come from diverse cultural
and ethnic backgrounds; their parents live in Knox and surrounding counties
and work full-time or attend school.
The first step to enrollment: There is no fee to apply, and applications
are dated once received. As openings develop throughout the year, families
are contacted according to their application date. Our major transition
occurs in late August when our oldest group enters Kindergarten and
younger children move to older classes.
Since every year
is different, in terms of transition, it often is difficult to predict
availability from date of application to enrollment. Openings do occur
throughout the year (and often unexpectedly!) as families relocate.
Fee schedules are available upon request.
Staff
Beth Cooper-Libby, center director,
graduated from Indiana University with a double-major in Drama and Sociology. In
addition, she has a CDA from Roane State. "Miss Beth" has worked in a variety of childhood settings, including
working with multi-handicapped and with at risk children.
All of our teachers have
formal training in early childhood education, having earned a degree,
CDA, or other certification. To foster professional growth, every staff
person participates regularly in continuing education events and is
a member of Knox Area Assoc. for the Education of Young Children (KAAEYC).
