Mount Calvary Childcare & Lutheran Preschool

Mount Calvary Child Care and Preschool

CHRIST-CENTERED, ARTS-INFUSED, LIFE-LONG LEARNING…

THE MOUNT CALVARY CHILD CARE & PRESCHOOL MODEL

Our Teachers…

Our teachers work together to give the best possible care and education for your child. We have an open-door policy to families and the MTCCC&P Team welcomes you at any time! Our teachers are trained in CPR, First Aid, Universal Precautions and are orientated to all policies, procedures, and state regulations.

Our Lead Teachers have either an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or a Child Development Associate credential. Assistant Teachers have varying degrees of education and experience in working with children. In order to fulfill 20 hours of annual professional development, our teachers participate in weekly or bi-monthly professional learning communities or meetings and attend workshops or conferences to improve their teaching skills.

Our Curriculum…

Our faith-based and arts-infused curriculum is integrated throughout the day into all educational components of your child’s learning at Mount Calvary and children ages one and up attend Chapel every Thursday morning during the school year. Simple Bible lessons, songs, finger play, and prayers are incorporated throughout the day. As an arts-infused early childhood learning school, dramatic play, visual arts, music, and the creative arts are a part of each child’s day. We believe that by integrating our faith as well as the arts into everything we do that each child’s creativity, imagination, and problem-solving will flourish.

Our research-based curriculum, The Creative Curriculum®, confirms our beliefs and is utilized in each classroom daily. The Creative Curriculum® helps teachers build children’s confidence, creativity and critical thinking skills, and promote positive outcomes. This curriculum is also aligned to the Indiana Early Learning Foundations for Infants through Pre-Kindergarten which prepares children to be well-prepared for Kindergarten and the K-12 Indiana Academic Standards. Student-centered learning areas such as math, science, blocks, manipulatives, reading, music, and sensory table allow children to learn best through play, hands-on exploration and discovery. For the faith-based curriculum, Orange Curriculum is used. Orange Curriculum believes that “two combined influences make a greater impact than just two individual influences.” The Light of the Church (Yellow) + The Love of the Home (Red) = Orange

Our Environment…

Parents and visitors to Mount Calvary are first met by a keypad in the entryway which ensures safety for the staff and children. Our spacious classrooms were designed for the various ages of the children we serve and are student-centered. Restrooms in each classroom allow staff to supervise toileting, potty training and diapering.

We are proud to house an on-site elementary school full-size gymnasium for gross motor development and play. Activities such as parachute play, riding toys, hula hoops, scooters, and an assortment of dance and physical movement options are available to children as they learn.

The Mount Calvary Children’s Library is home to many favorite children’s books. Children can check out books weekly encouraging early literacy both at school and home.

Our Grounds…

We believe that physical activity helps children develop large motor skills as well as brain connections that enable children to better learn. A large fenced playground for Preschool includes areas for climbing, sliding, swinging, sandbox play and grassy areas for ball play and room to run!

A separate fenced area with similar equipment and a canopy for shade is enjoyed by the infant, toddler, and two-year olds. In the summer months, children participate in outdoor water play.

Our Nutritional Food…

We participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program* (CACFP) of the state of Indiana, which ensures that your child is served a variety of nutritious foods and appropriate serving sizes according to their age group.

We try to accommodate children with special dietary plans as approved by their physician. Breakfast is served from 6:45-8 a.m. each day, followed by a mid-morning snack, hot lunch, and an afternoon snack.

Meal time is also a learning time for children! We strive to make a pleasant mealtime atmosphere in our classrooms as staff sit with the children, engaging in conversation and paying attention to table manners. Infants are fed according to individual feeding plans which are updated by parents as needed.

USDA CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

*This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Our Safe Sleep & Rest Best Practices…

Infants nap in their assigned cribs according to their own individual schedules and safe sleep practices are followed. Toddlers through age 5 sleep on cots in their classrooms with a light blanket, small pillow and sleeping buddy provided by the family. Lights are turned down and rest-time music is played as children settle into a comfortable rest time. Teachers move around to children, providing quiet conversation and rubbing backs as needed. Children who do not sleep may get up after a half-hour and do quiet activities while waiting for others to awake.

Our Fees…

Full-time weekly fees vary according to the age of child and are at a rate comparable to the area we serve. Preschool is included in the weekly child care fee, as well as meals and snacks. We give 15 vacation days per year with no charge for children enrolled full time. A family discount is available when more than one child is enrolled. We offer monthly fees for those wishing to join us for only preschool during the school year.

School age fees for before and after school are determined by the hours needed. CCDF (formerly Bright Point; now Automated Health Systems) vouchers from the state are accepted. All policies and procedures may be found in greater detail in our parent handbook along with our fee schedule.

Our Yearly Schedule & Hours of Operation…

Mount Calvary Lutheran Child Care and Preschool is open from 6 AM to 6 PM Monday through Friday. We are closed for Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, the day after Christmas, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day and Independence Day. Part-time preschool hours are 8:45-11:45 AM during the school year with options of three, four, or five mornings per week.

Special Services We Provide…

Children with special needs are included in our classrooms if we are able to best meet their needs. We work with First Steps therapists and other service providers that families arrange to work with their children on-site.

Mount Calvary offers a School-Age Before and After-School Program with transportation to and from Maplewood and Waynedale Elementary Schools (Fort Wayne Community Schools). We also provide a School-Age Summer Program that keeps children active and learning during the summer months with activities such as swimming, roller skating, and community-based field trips.

Our Accreditation & Memberships…

Mount Calvary Child Care & Preschool is accredited by the National Lutheran Schools Association and is an Indiana Registered VCP Ministry. We are an Indiana Paths to Quality Level 3 Provider. Our administration maintains active membership with the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the Lutheran Education Association.

2019-2020 PRESCHOOL CALENDAR

Thurs. Aug. 29 Back to school night 5:30-7:00PM

Mon. Aug. 19 First Day of Classes

Mon. Sept. 2 CLOSED for Labor Day

Oct. 24& 25 Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences

Thurs Oct. 31 Fall Classroom Parties

Mon. Nov 4 School Pictures 8-:00-11:30AM

Fri. Nov. 15 Grandparents Day 9:00-11:00AM

Nov. 28-29 CLOSED ~ Thanksgiving Vacation

Wed. Dec. 18 Christmas Service 6:30PM

Dec.24-Jan.4 NO PRESCHOOL ~ Christmas Vacation

(Child Care CLOSED Dec. 24, Dec. 25, Dec. 26, & Jan.1)

Jan.27-Feb. 1 National Lutheran Schools Week

March Dad’s Night 5:30-7:00PM

March 18-20 Pre-K 4 ‘s Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences

Mar 30- Apr. 3 NO PRESCHOOL ~ Spring Break (Child Care Open)

Fri. Apr. 10 CLOSED ~ Good Friday

April 16-17 Preschool 3’s Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences

Fri. May 8 Mom’s Morning 7:00-9:00AM

Thurs. May 21 Spring Program 6:30pm

Fri. May 22 Last Day of Preschool/ Game day

Assistant Teacher/Caregiver

Mount Calvary Lutheran Child Care and Preschool is seeking both part-time and full-time nurturing individuals for an Assistant Teacher/Caregiver position. The qualified applicant should have a working knowledge of children (ages infants – prekindergarten) in order to provide the best care and environment for their growth and learning. The person in this position will work with a Lead Teacher in providing and documenting each child’s daily care and education according to Paths to Quality regulations (Mount Calvary’s ministry is a Paths to Quality Level 3 Provider), along with implementing Lead Teacher directed lesson plans. A degree, CDA, or coursework in early childhood education, elementary education, or related field is preferred.

Job Responsibilities

Lovingly care for all of the needs of our students in a learning environment that stimulates child growth and development
Nurture our young students throughout their daily routines and learning activities
Ensure a clean and healthy classroom atmosphere by maintaining children’s proper hygiene and following proper policies and procedures
Exemplify characteristics of a Christian/Lutheran in a child care setting
Execute lesson plans utilizing research-based best practices and the Indiana Learning Foundations as a resource
Create and develop strong parent and child relationships
Complete a minimum of 15 hours of ongoing professional development
Complete and maintain CPR and First Aid certification

An ideal candidate for this role should possess:

Must have teaching/care-giving experience
Degree, CDA, or coursework in early childhood education, elementary education, or related field is preferred
Classroom experience required
Must be articulate, reliable, and possess a professional demeanor
Must love young children and have a passion for teaching and care-giving

Interested candidates should send their resume and any credentials to director@mtcfw.org, or call 260-203-3715 for more information.

Dora Kurpierz

Preschool & Child Care Director

Courtney Knight

Preschool & Child Care Office Manager

Daniela Boots

Infant Co-Teacher

Daniela Boots is a member of Mt Calvary Lutheran Church and have worked with the infants for six years. She love being creative and enjoys interior design, quilt making, art, and writing. It’s both a privilege and blessing to care for and teach these little ones. She also enjoy getting to know the families! It’s wonderful to see how much the infants progress in the time they spend in our room!

Caprice Capers

Infant Assistant

Caprice Capers is the assistant teacher in our room and the infants love, love, love her expressive story telling! We use the Creative Curriculum to teach and guide in a meaningful way. Caprice and Daniela are always happy to answer questions and are available any time. You can contact us at infants@mtcfw.org or call/text us directly.

Brittany Kyler

Infant Co-Teacher

Brittany Kyler is a member of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Columbia City. She have my bachelor’s in educational ministries, with a Minor in Missions at Huntington University. Brittney was a Registered Behavioral Technician at Children’s Autism Center. Some activities that she enjoy are camping, watching Notre Dame football, watching Cubs baseball, spending time with my family and friends and writing/reading. She recently was married May 4th, 2019 to her husband Joe. She love being around kids, watching them learn and play and grow. She love that they have a child-like wonder on everything and it is fun to watch them experience that wonder.

Amy Steele

2’s Co-Teacher

My name is Amy Steele. I am excited to be the co-lead teacher in the Pre-Kindergarten room again. I am originally from Nebraska. I moved here in May 2018 so that my husband could attend Concordia Theological Seminary. I have a bachelor’s degree in early childhood and have been working with children for about 8 years. It is an honor to continue in a Christian setting to teach children about the basics and all about how God loves them.

Dawn Faust

2’s Co-Teacher

Dawn Foust attends First Missionary Church in Berne. She has my Bachelor’s degree from Rochester University in Rochester Hills, MI. She then got my infant/Toddler specialist certification from Ball State.Dane worked as a head start teacher, infant teacher, preschool teacher and a childcare provider. She enjoys reading, crafting, being with my family and traveling. She is married to my husband Dathen and have two boys Luke age 12 and William age 8. She enjoys watching children learn and feel God has blessed her with the ability to teach children.

Naomi Steed

Toddler Teacher

Naomi Steed was born and raised in Fort Wayne IN. She graduated from Wayne High School with honors and attended at Ivy Tech for liberal arts. She recently went back last year (2018) to work towards my CDA at Ivy Tech. She hopes to help each child grow and progress in their learning. Her hobbies include, singing/ playing the piano.

Sarah Drouillard

3’s Assistant

Megan Bessey

3’s Teacher

Kinsey Pease

4’s/5’s Teacher

Kinsey Pease attends The Pointe Church on Bass Rd. She has an Associate’s in Early Childhood Education, a certificate in registered behavior therapy and a paraprofessional certificate. She worked as an office manager at Abacus Early Learning Center, an assistant special education teacher at Washington Elementary. She also worked as a lead teacher at Hanna-Creighton HeadStart, and Registered behavior Therapist at Child’s Play Autism Center.

Some hobbies of Kinsey are singing, reading books and spending time with my family outdoors. She love musicals and concerts as well. She is newly married to my husband Stephan and have a daughter, Kyah,2 cats and 1 dog. She grew up in a family of teachers. She have always loved working with children and has wanted to teach since she was in kindergarten.

Linda Dalman

4’s/5’s Teacher Assistant

Linda Dalman is currently the assistant in the fours room. Linda attends Bethany Lutheran Church. Linda graduated from Elmhurst High School. She was the Head Cook at Zion Lutheran Academy and a Teacher Assistant. Linda also was an assistant manager at Walgreens and a customer service manager at Hobby Lobby. Linda enjoy running, reading, crafts, gardening, working out at the gym and enjoying her four grand kids and 5-month-old puppy Piper. Linda have been married for 35 years to her husband Mark. She has three sons, Daniel, David and Derrek and four grandkids. She has always loved working with children.

Brittany Disheaux

4’s Afternoon Teacher Assistant

Brittany Disheaux attends St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. She graduated from Concordia Lutheran High School in 2016 and she went to Ivy Tech for my degree in Elementary Education. Her first job was at the Parkview YMCA Childwatch. Then worked as a Lead Toddler teacher at Little Praiser’s Preschool and childcare. She worked there for over a year and then was offered a job here as the Assistant Teacher in the toddler room. Then in May she became the Co-Lead teacher.

She is married and had their first child in January. They are so excited and blessed. She have always had a passion for being around and working with children. She love watching a child grow in knowledge and in faith. Brittany also is a colorguard instructor at Concordia Lutheran High and have been teaching since she graduated in 2016.