Spotlight on Advent Lutheran Child Center: Caring for God’s Most Precious Gifts
Found in Spokane Valley, Washington, Advent Lutheran Child Center has a motto that says it all: “Taking Care of God’s Most Precious Gifts.” This full-time, year-round program serves children from just one month old through age 12, offering not only loving care for little ones but also before and after-school programs for five area schools, plus full-time care during summer and school closure days.
Growing in Faith
One of the most beloved parts of the week is Chapel, where children and staff gather to worship, learn, and grow in faith together. Outside of Chapel, Advent’s days are filled with hands-on learning, exploration, and fun. At Advent Lutheran Child Center, students are encouraged to get messy, take risks, and learn through creativity and play. Director Heidi Perry told us,
“We are big on hands on learning, getting messy, and allowing our students to take risks. Sometimes this looks like coming in from recess covered head to toe in mud from our mud pit, bring a wading pool full of paint into the classroom or letting kids set up obstacle courses for them to climb on and over.”
Advent Lutheran Child Center’s dedicated staff are highly trained, with many lead teachers and caregivers holding college degrees. The center uses Creative Curriculum and GOLD for lesson planning and assessment, offering families two parent-teacher conferences each year to ensure strong connections between home and school. Field trips, bike days, gymnastics, and other experiences round out the opportunities for Pre-K and School Age children.
This year, Advent is celebrating an exciting milestone, which is a true reflection of their commitment to high-quality care and education.
“We will soon a Level 4 Early Achievers site! This has been something we have been working towards for years.”
Partnership with ELEA
Advent’s relationship with ELEA has been a source of inspiration and support over the years. Heidi shared that attending an ELEA conference in Seattle was transformative for their staff. From discovering new ways to structure Chapel, to incorporating The Welcoming Classroom video into staff training, to learning about ReconcilingWorks as a resource for supporting LGBTQ families, the conference had a lasting impact.
“The supports have definitely strengthened my leadership role and relationship with the church and helped me grown in these roles.”
Looking Ahead
Advent Lutheran Child Center is preparing to finish its “Quality Improvement” cycle to officially reach Level 4 Early Achievers status. The center is continuing their commitment to being a welcoming and affirming community. In the classroom, staff will deepen their use of Creative Curriculum and GOLD, building on the success of their first year with these tools.
“…this will be an ongoing topic of conversation in our church council meetings. We will continue to learn and grow in our use of Creative Curriculum and Gold…”
Advent’s story is one of joy, mess-making, growth, and faith. ELEA is proud to walk alongside them in their mission to care for God’s most precious gifts.
To learn more about Advent Lutheran Child Center visit their website at adventlutheranchildcenter.com or follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/adventlutheranchildcenter.
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