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Photo courtesy of Calvary Baptist Church
Parents in Ottawa soon will have a new choice in child care. Calvary Baptist Church, 927 W. Seventh St., Ottawa, will start a preschool program in August. From left: Kylie Rumford, Ryan Laurie, Liam Sutton, Colby Elder and Brock Sutton, all of whom are participants in the church’s current day care program.
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Church leaders’ dream of preschool, child care center nearing reality
By The Herald Staff
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Calvary Baptist Church, 927 W. Seventh St., Ottawa, will open a preschool and child care center in August, fulfilling a vision that began nearly two years ago.
“We are so close now, we know it’s not in our hands,” Program Director Kishawn Ferguson said. “It’s so exciting. The doors that have opened up, the people who have stepped forward to help. It’s something that is meant to be.”
Ferguson said being a ministry to children has always been a big part of Calvary Baptist and that adding the preschool and day care center is a natural progression.
“It’s a ministry to the community,” she said. “We’re ready to embrace more community children and bring them into our church family.”
The made-just-for-kids program will encourage spiritual development with lessons that teach Christian values. Daily lesson plans will include Bible stories, songs and verses.
The A Beka curriculum will provide the preschoolers an enjoyable foundation for academic excellence while incorporating Bible based activities into learning letters, sounds, phonics, reading, writing, math, social studies, science, art and the Bible.
Ferguson said most A Beka curriculum students learn to read before they enter kindergarten.
“It’s phonics-based and second to none,” she said.
Small class sizes in the church’s newly remodeled educational wing will allow teachers to address the needs of each student, whether it be learning time or play time. Individual learning centers will be used to help students learn arts and crafts, simply play or become computer savvy.
Parents may choose full time, Monday through Friday or a part-time mornings only, three days a week. Enrollment is available now and limited to 50 children three to four years of age.
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