All staff will foster positive, nurturing relationships with the children they care for. A large majority of our staff have degrees in Early Childhood Education or a related field. In addition to the training and experience they bring to our center, they are committed to on-going personal development and education in the field of early childhood instruction by maintaining at least 12 hours of in-service each year. Currently, all of our staff is certified in CPR and First Aid.

A unique component of our teachers is that they are all knowledgeable with our Nature Explore Classroom. Along with attending several Nature Explore trainings, the staff are also required to read the following books; Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv; Roots, Shoots and Buckets of Boots by Lovejoy; Gardening Wizardry for Kids by Kite; and Sunflower Houses by Lovejoy.

Our staff will seek to work collaboratively with parents in the parents’ primary role of caring for and nurturing their children. The teachers at the Early Childhood Center are chosen based on their knowledge of early childhood education, love of God and children and passion for teaching.

1. To bring glory to God by ministering to families in our community based on their needs in Jesus’ name for His purposes.

2. To maintain an outstanding program using the best methods of caring and educating young children with developmentally appropriate practices each day.

3. To offer rich play opportunities, including exploring God’s creation with an all natural outdoor play area, to develop positive interpersonal relationships.

4. To have a love for children by the teachers and staff that is reflected in every aspect of the child’s day.

5. To offer a church family that supports the center by sharing their time and talents.

1. As we nurture children’s SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT, we will seek to help them understand the importance of loving God and loving others. This will occur as we share with them through “rhythms of faith” that occur daily (prayer and lessons of Bible stories/Bible values-taught directly or incorporated with other learning experiences; weekly in children’s worship time and seasonally by exploring and experiencing the church calendar year, including Advent and Christmas, Lent and Easter.

2. With the best possible childhood care and teaching as our goal, we will incorporate DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE PRACTICE throughout our Center. This will be supported through clear understanding of child development, and expressed through planning for and experiences with children of general age groups and through members of the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), whose resources and teacher development strategies will be key components of our staff guidelines and ongoing training.

3. Being confident that emotional and social development are strongly influenced by POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS, have a priority of seeking to nurture in each child a growing set of interactions with peers and caregivers that can help shape their developing sense of personal identity and positive connection to others.

4. The breadth of GOD’S AMAZING CREATION is a “cornerstone” for our active exploration as we seek to develop children’s love for learning. Teachers and other invited resource guests will engage children in the natural world of people , animals, plants, land forms, and water and sea.

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5. Our environment supports our curriculum and emphasizes RICH PLAY OPPORTUNITIES for children, knowing that creative and interactive play experiences can have life-long emotional, social, cognitive and physical benefits. Well supported play experiences are widely accepted as the most developmentally appropriate way for children to learn.

6. Recognizing that the structure, decor, arrangement, and resources of our Center have incredible impact on the day-to-day experiences of children and on their individual developmental outcomes, we continually work to maintain and further enhance an OPTIMAL PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT.

7. All STAFF MEMBERS foster positive, nurturing relationships with the children they care for, and in addition to the training and experience they bring to our center, are committed to on-going personal development and education in the field of early childhood instruction.

8. Our staff seeks to work collaboratively with PARENTS in the parents’ primary role of caring for and nurturing their children.

9. The FIRST COVENANT CHURCH CONGREGATION shares in the Center’s passion for children and will continue to support the ECC’s ministry to children and their families in many involved and creative ways.

To share Jesus’ love while meeting the needs of the whole child in an orderly, individualized and interactive learning environment that encourages spiritual, emotional, social, cognitive and physical development.