Child Development Center
Our Mission
The mission of Saint Mark CDC is to assist families in the nurturing and growth of their children:
physically, intellectually, and socially, in a safe and welcoming Christian environment.
At Saint Mark CDC we are committed to the highest standards in early childhood development and education.
Our goal is to provide a fun environment where your child feels welcomed, nurtured, and respected each day.
As a privately run center we pride ourselves in the ability to provide lower teacher-to-child ratios than required, relationship-oriented classrooms, and a curriculum with developmentally appropriate activities and expectations. We look at each child as an individual, and with parental input and daily interactions in the classroom, we do our very best to meet their academic, social, and developmental needs.
Your child will become a member of our family here at Saint Mark CDC, and we look forward to using each day spent with us as an opportunity to add another priceless memory to their childhood.
Our school-like atmosphere is informal, fun, and friendly.
The staff present themselves as nurturers and good role models for our precious children. Our teachers are educated and look forward to continually growing and learning as educators. We recognize and encourage individual teaching styles as well as individual learning styles for our staff and our students. Our staff demonstrate a caring community by working together and respecting one another. Together, we (parents and staff) can provide an environment full of love, acceptance, and fun.
Saint Mark provides care for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old, as well as after school and summer programs for children 5-12 years old.
All classrooms follow a year round curriculum based on ages and developmental needs of the children.
All lessons are themed-based and hands-on to provide opportunities to make independent choices. We encourage all children to participate in the classroom activities, but we also provide alternate activities for children that may need it, whether it be a few moments to themselves or some one-on-one time with one of their teachers.
We use playtime in the classroom as well as outdoors to develop social skills, fine and gross motor skills, and conflict resolution skills.
We understand that everyone is different, and we embrace that here at Saint Mark CDC.
Together, we (parents and teachers) can instill a sense of self-esteem and excitement for learning.
We cannot wait to meet, teach, learn, love, and grow with your child.
Early Drop-Off
We are so excited to announce that we have added an early drop off option to our program.
This allows you to drop off at 6:30am instead of our normal hours of 7am. There is a fee for this program, and it will be added to your child’s tuition. This program will be limited, and spots will be filled on a first come basis, so sign up now!
Volunteer to work with our children, youth or vulnerable adults
We cannot do ministry with our children, youth and vulnerable adults without our volunteers!
For the safety of our vulnerable disciples and for the volunteers who serve them, we ask those seeking to volunteer to receive Safe Sanctuaries training.
Safe Sanctuaries
Children, Youth, Vulnerable Adults
Recognizing the growing threat of child abuse and its presence even among God’s own people, the 1996 General Conference adopted a resolution on “Reducing the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse in the Church” which states, “God calls us to make our churches safe places, protecting children and other vulnerable persons from sexual and ritual abuse.
God calls us to create communities of faith where children and adults grow safe and strong.” Safe Sanctuaries is the movement and initiative to fulfill this call upon us – to make our churches safe places for the young and the vulnerable and those in ministry with them.
Saint Mark UMC has made it a priority to ensure that the children, youth and vulnerable adults in our community of faith remain safe while in our care. To that end, we have established our own comprehensive Safe Sanctuaries policy.
Are you a parent?
There are two documents you will want to see.
Parent-Child Covenant Form
The Parent-Child Covenant Form will lay out children and youth behavior expectations and includes a conflict resolution covenant statement.
Release/Waiver Form
The Release/Waiver Form releases the church from liability. It includes permission to transport, permission to administer first aid and medical assistance, as well as permission to permit photos of the child/youth to be used in church publicity. You will have the opportunity to add important health information.
Do you want to volunteer to work with our children, youth or vulnerable adults?
We cannot do ministry with our children, youth and vulnerable adults without our volunteers!
For the safety of our vulnerable disciples and for the volunteers who serve them, we ask those seeking to volunteer to receive Safe Sanctuaries training.
Resources
We ask you to fill out all the necessary forms and submit them to the church office. Click here to contact our Administrative Assistant.
First, watch the training presentation.
Then, take the training quiz to see how much you have learned.
Appendix A is the Volunteer Information Form that will need to be filled out and returned. View form.
Appendix B is Volunteer Covenant that we ask you to fill out and sign. View form.
Appendix C is a form to grant Saint Mark permission to request a background check on you. View form.