Our Programs
About Celebration! Childcare
Celebration! Childcare is a nonprofit organization providing full day childcare with an embedded preschool curriculum and after school programming for children 6 weeks to 12 years of age. We provide quality, faith based, play based programming at a superior competitive value for Lake County families.
Celebration! Childcare is an early childhood ministry of Holy Cross Lutheran Church located adjacent to the church. (CrossWays Preschool is also an early childhood ministry of Holy Cross Lutheran Church that offers half day preschool programming for children 2 years to 5 years of age. Both of these entities formerly used the umbrella name of Building Blocks Childhood Center. Visit the CrossWays Preschool website at cpreschool.org)
Celebration! Childcare is licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).
Celebration! Childcare admits students of any race, color, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. Celebration! Childcare does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of educational policies, admission policies, assistance programs and other school-administered programs.
• Our Staff, Our Families, Our Board, Faith, Technology, Security
Our Mission
We seek to introduce children with a world that lies beyond the home and to provide a broad base of learning to develop each child's God-given gifts socially, emotionally, physically, spiritually and educationally. Our quality, nonprofit, faith based preschool programs are designed to provide safe, nurturing environments for children to grow, play and learn.
Our Beliefs
• All children are capable of learning and have individual needs, skills, and talents.
• Partnerships between experienced, caring teachers and parents benefit the whole family.
• Children learn best through experiences that enhance their self-esteem, help them make choices, and develop competencies.
• Children learn best through play based discovery combined with teacher-directed lessons to maximize learning, creativity, and curiosity.
• Connecting children to nature develops children’s innate senses of discovery and exploration.
• God-honoring values promote sound, morally based decision making skills and treatment of others.
• Flexible programs best satisfy family needs.
We Celebrate
• The fullest potential in each child.
• The uniqueness of each child and family.
• A nurturing, loving, safe, and secure environment.
• Service to others.
• A child’s social, emotional, physical, spiritual, and intellectual development.
• Having experiences that increase the child’s awareness of the world around them.
• A love of learning in an atmosphere of mutual trust, respect and responsibility.
• Diversity and culture.
Our Staff
Celebration! Childcare teachers and assistants are DCFS qualified, highly experienced and child-centered educators. Select staff receive continuing education and are CPR and First Aid certified.
Our Families
Families are a vital part of Celebration! Childcare. We encourage an atmosphere of open communication and welcome parents to get involved in their child’s classroom to share in the learning experience. One of the best and most delightful ways of learning about Celebration! Childcare is to stop by and visit the classroom. Parents are encouraged to visit. If parents choose to visit during lunch hour, they may eat lunch with the class!
Our Board
We are supported by the Holy Cross Early Childhood Ministries Board, which includes parent representatives and congregation members. Parent representatives serve as liaisons for Celebration! Childcare families.
Faith
Christian faith is supported through God-honoring values, children’s chapel, Vacation Bible School, bible stories, and other curriculums such as Godly Play™.
Security
The program entrance door is locked at all times. A fob system lock is located at the entrance door. Visitors are only allowed into Celebration! Childcare with permission from the director. Security guidelines are located in the Parent Handbook.
Technology
We offer the experience and the exposure to the latest technology in our classrooms. We utilize tablets and age-appropriate learning apps to enhance our curriculum. Celebration! Childcare is pleased to be using brightwheel software to simplify communicating with parents, check-in and check-out, billing, and more. Our parents have become big fans of brightwheel, and the simplicity of using it through their smartphones. For more information, watch the quick video below.
