“Some of our most effective relational and
missional connections at Stillmeadow Church have been developed through the
hundreds of parents and kids that are part of the Stillmeadow Child Care
Center.” Pastor Bud Reedy
NEW CHILD CARE CENTER DIRECTOR
Last evening, Donna Henry (shown above) was named
the new Child Care Center director, following the retirement of Sue Cox, who
has been the CCC director since September of 2006. Donna has a BA in Early Childhood and Elementary
Education from Juniata College. She has been in the education field for over 25
years. As an army wife, Donna, had the opportunity to teach in various
locations such as Germany, Korea, Alabama and Virginia. She has been employed
at Stillmeadow since 2009. Donna and her husband, Todd, have 2 children.
MORE THAN FOUR DECADES
There has been a long tradition of the
partnership between Stillmeadow Church and the Child Care Center. Forty-three
years ago the center was started by Ken Brubaker, and directors that followed
were Rachael Brubaker, Pat Seiple, Sally Reedy and most recently, Sue Cox. The CCC
director supervises five office staff and more than forty teachers. The kids
are taught lessons daily (each teacher is required to submit a creative lesson
plan to the CCC director every week.)
IMPRESSIVE FACILITY and SECURE CARE
The 210 kids that are part of the CCC span
from six weeks old to fifth grade. (School Age Care is from K-5th
grade). Most of the kids are from Central York School District, but there are also
a few kids from St. Joseph and York Academy. Fifteen classrooms, two
playgrounds, a soccer and softball field and two gymnasiums are available for
the kids. Parents and/or guardians go through a fingerprint check to pick up
the kids.
WEEKLY BIBLE LESSONS
As Chaplin of the child care center, Pastor
Josh Kleinfeld intentionally connects with the kids every week, by teaching an
age relevant Bible Lesson. He does this really well. In fact, former CCC
Director Sally Reedy says, “Pastor Josh is like a pied piper with the kids, and
many families make the leap from the Child Care Center to our church because of
his connection with them.”
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
Every Wednesday two ladies from Stillmeadow
Church of the Nazarene, Elaine Leiphart and Patsy Moses, intentionally connect
with Child Care Center parents by serving them coffee at the Stillnaz café. Long
term relationships have been developed through this important connection
between the church and the center.
LIFE SAVING CONNECTION
Seven years ago (2009) Shiela Beichner enrolled
her son Kyle in our Child Care Center. Last year after Shiela found out her
failing kidney would soon kill her, she joined a Stillmeadow Church class
called HOPE (a support group for people dealing with life threatening
illnesses). Turns out the coordinator of the group was Lisa Little, who decided
to get tested to donate her kidney to Shiela. This turned out to be a life
saving connection. (read the newspaper story HERE).
The Child Care Center is a member of NEW
(Nazarene Educators Worldwide) and is enrolled in the Keystone Stars
certification program. The center donates ten percent of proceeds to
Stillmeadow Church of the Nazarene.
(Brian Cox, Sue’s son, designed and maintains
the CCC’s website)
(Thank
you to Sue Cox for helping with the content for this Friday Feature News)
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