OUR MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission at Neighborhood Christian Center is to embrace individuality in a natural, developmentally appropriate play based environment which fosters a love of learning. It is our mission to nurture the whole child through wonder and discovery.
We teach children that God loves everyone and Jesus is their friend and Savior. We practice good stewardship of ourselves, relationships with others, and the world. We welcome all children regardless of race, sex, color, religion, nationality, or ethnicity.
PHILOSOPHY OF LEARNING
Developmentally Appropriate Practices
Both the children and teachers have a hand in designing how the learning takes place! By using developmentally appropriate, researched based early childhood practices, children are supported in reaching recognized milestones at their own pace.
Physically
NCC provides both teacher and child led learning times to support children in exploring with their whole body through play using all 5 senses.
Social & Emotional
Learning
Children are naturally curious and want to relate to the world around them. This is supported through developmentally appropriate practices, where children learn to collaborate with peers, develop self regulation and show appropriate approaches to learning.
Spiritually
Our loving staff model the love of Jesus and have integrated Biblical values in every aspect of NCC. Through stories, songs, puppets, and the modeling of our staff, children will understand that they are wonderfully created by God. Specifically, children will learn that the Bible is God’s Word, how and why we pray, how to serve others, to be good stewards of our blessings and to be Christ-like in all they do.
Language
& Literacy
The teaching staff help children connect and integrate language through daily tasks and routines. Teachers provide feedback to promote learning and expand language skills. Children are empowered with language as a tool to build up self confidence and autonomy.
Environmentally
NCC provides children with regular access to a beautiful and organic outdoor setting, where they are welcome to help care for and play among the multiple garden areas. By fostering an appreciation and caring attitude for the world around them, children will develop good stewardship of the world God has blessed us with. We teach positive ownership of our earth through modeling of sustainable living choices.
Math & Science
Children are tiny scientists, constantly inquiring about the world around them. NCC encourages children’s learning in math and science with hands on materials and teacher led discussions and activities. For example, when children build a tower and it falls over they discover cause and effect. When children turn a puzzle piece to find how it fits together with the other pieces they are experiencing geometry. When children count the number of children at the snack table and then count out the appropriate amount of napkins, they are demonstrating mathematical reasoning.
Valley Christian Schools Exemplary Schools:
1. Agree to maintain a current preschool license through the California Department of Social Services;
2. Agree that the preschool director or its designated representative will attend a VCS orientation regarding the Exemplary Preschool Initiative Agreement and VCS’s expected Kindergarten readiness skills;
3. Agree that VCS will provide tour(s) of its campus to the preschool director or its designated representative to learn more about VCS’s elementary program;
4. Understand that at its discretion, VCS will grant “Preferred Early Admission” to qualified preschool students who have demonstrated proficiency of required kindergarten readiness skills for VCS and have received an acceptance letter for admission to Valley Christian Schools' kindergarten;
5. Agree to attend a K-1 Preview Day for preschools hosted by VCS; and
6. At its discretion, VCS will present Exemplary Preschool Scholar Award(s) at the preschool’s commencement, each Award valued at $1,000, for qualified preschool graduates who have demonstrated proficiency of required kindergarten readiness skills for VCS and have received an acceptance letter for admission to Valley Christian Schools.