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 and Universal Precautions and are orientated to all policies, procedures, and state regulations.

Our Preschool Lead Teachers have a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or Education. Our other 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. Simple Bible lessons, songs, finger play, and prayers are incorporated. The Arts are alive at Mount Calvary as well! 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 on a daily basis. 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.

Other 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. Teachers are able to select a wide variety of learning materials from our resource room to meet the individual needs and interests of each child.

Our Environment…

Parents and visitors to Mt. 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 our student-centered. Restrooms in each classroom allow staff to supervise toileting, potty training and diapering.

We are also 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 are able to 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!

Teachers supervise an area for riding toys on a paved surface. A separate fenced area with similar equipment and a canopy for shade is enjoyed by the infant, toddler, and two-year olds. Water and bicycle days during the summer are great fun too!

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 the appropriate amounts 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. Safe sleep practices are followed for infants. 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 10 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 (Bright Point) 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…

​Mt. 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, New Year’s Eve, New Years 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…

About 65-70 children pass through our doors on a daily basis. Because of easy access to Airport Express and Bluffton Road at the south end of Ft. Wayne, we are able to serve those traveling into the city for work, as well as those who live within the surrounding community.

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.

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.

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 2 Provider. Our administration maintains active membership with the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the Lutheran Education Association, the Indiana Association for School Principals, and the Indiana Association for the Gifted.