Loving Hearts Learning Place Annual Report 2009

Following many, many months of planning, work and much prayer, Loving Hearts Learning Place Child Care Ministry and Preschool opened on August 10, 2009. We opened with twelve staff members and 22 children; at year's end we have more than doubled our enrollment to over fifty registered children!

Our children, from infancy to age five, have enjoyed the lovely renovated classrooms and the new playgrounds. Their days have been filled with planned, developmentally-appropriate learning activities, child-directed themes, creative art, stories, games, music and movement, as well as snacks, lunch time, and rest time. They have also been busy building relationships with their classmates and their teachers.

Once a week the children two and older have joined Pastor Greg in the sanctuary for chapel time, learning more about God's love for them. In November we clebrated our first "Loving Hearts Sunday," when we invited our weekday families to join us for worship on Sunday morning. Our children sang their special chapel songs for the congregation.

We are pleased to be chosen by RISE Special Services to be one of their community preschool sites. We currently have three children place here by RISE and who receive therapy and support from RISE staff while here at Loving Hearts.

Our Christmas project was collecting new socks of all sizes to help keep cold feet warmer this winter! Our giant stocking was filled with over 160 pairs of socks, which we sent to Servant's Heart of Indy, to share with their clients.

By the end of 2010 we hope to be close to our capacity enrollment, as we continue to represent the fellowship of Southminster Presbyterian by sharing love and learning with young children.

Sarah Maple and Starla Hilgert

Co-Directors of Loving Hearts