Greetings from Noah's Ark. We are a licensed childcare center accredited by United Methodist Association of Preschools. If you are in need of a quality preschool or/and childcare you are looking in the right place. Please select Noah's Ark CDC on the left and find out more about how we care for and teach Noah's Ark children.
NOAH’S ARK CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
A MINISTRY OF UNITED METHODIST TEMPLE
OUR PURPOSE
Your child is very precious to us. We want to provide a safe, clean, loving environment where your child can experience and learn about this wonderful and exciting world. The foundation of our program is laid with God’s love. The activities provided for your child are developmentally appropriate, Promote healthy self-esteem and positive social behavior. Your child will receive constant love and attention, art activities, plenty of play, outside time, Bible stories, music, and a feeling of God’s loving presence. We believe that each child is unique and develops and learns in their own special way. Our goal is to help your child become confident and enjoy success in an atmosphere of love and respect.
ALL ABOUT US
Noah’s Ark Child Development Center is open all year except for the holidays noted below. Hours are 7:00am to 6:00pm- Monday through Friday. Noah’s Ark is closed on the following holidays:
· New Year’s Day
· Memorial Day
· Independence Day
· Labor Day
· Thanksgiving Day and the day after Thanksgiving
· Christmas Eve
· Christmas Day
Noah’s Ark is accredited by the United Methodist Association of Preschools. An accreditation qualifies Noah’s Ark as a Florida Gold Seal school. This means that parents can be assured that Noah’s Ark has met educational and safety standards that exceed the minimum standards required by licensing.
Parents sign their children in and out electronically each day. Children are released from Noah’s Ark to those people listed on the information form. A driver’s license is required for identification if a person is not known to us. Individuals must be 16 years or older to pick up children. A nutritional breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks are provided for all children.
Field trips are planned as fun and educational additions to our program for our three year olds, and four year olds and school-age children. Field trips are announced at least one week before the event. Parents must sign a field trip permission Form allowing the child to go on a field trip. Transportation may be provided by our van or a chartered bus. Teachers will record the names of the children as they get on and off the van or bus. Time of departures and arrivals will be noted. A check by a second teacher will be done immediately after the children exit from the van or bus. Noah’s Ark van drivers must meet the state regulations.
Noah’s Ark is monitored by several agencies. Inspections are done a minimum of once a year by the Health and Sanitation Department, Fire Inspector, and Department of Children and Families Licensing Department. In addition, Noah’s Ark is inspected by United Methodist Association of Preschools, a Gold Seal accrediting agency,
We invite you to join your child in his/her classroom whenever you like. Family attendance at our various celebrations and activities is encouraged. We welcome frequent communication between parents and staff. Our staff is sensitive to the children’s needs and your wishes. The director’s door is always open to parents.
INFANTS AT NOAH’S ARK
The goal of the Noah’s Ark infant program is to love and provide individual care for each infant. The infant teachers plan their day around the schedules of the infants. The teachers of our infants are alert to the health of our little ones and the cleanliness of the room. They have been trained in proper sanitation procedures and follow them through each day. Opportunities for learning are offered continuously. The teachers understand that both verbal and non-verbal language is important to infants. Our little ones are encouraged to explore the world around them through all their senses. The teachers provide a variety of opportunities to experience sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. Infant teachers are in constant communication with parents. A daily report is presented at the end of the day so parents know just what kind of a day their baby has had. Parents are encouraged to visit our infant room and we welcome suggestions in the most important task of loving and caring for the little ones.
TODDLERS AT NOAH’S ARK
The goal of our toddler program is to offer opportunities for our one and two year old children to learn through touch, sight, taste, sound, smell, and movement. Our staff is flexible and trained to use the “moment” to teach. They provide opportunities for the toddlers to choose between a variety of developmentally appropriate activities. They offer imaginative play, creative art, music, books and more. Children are redirected to help guide them toward appropriate behaviors. Teachers offer positive and caring attention to ensure a good self-concept. Toddlers at Noah’s Ark experience a consistent routine so they know what to expect and feel assured of calmness and love at all times. Older toddlers begin to have a circle time with just enough structure to allow teaching and interacting in small groups. The environment is changed frequently to meet the needs of the toddlers.
PRESCHOOL AT NOAH’S ARK
Our goal is to prepare your child for kindergarten in a loving and caring manner. Our teachers use hands-on methods and learning centers to help the children develop new skills. Teachers guide the children through problem solving skills and offer a large variety of learning materials that reflect the interest and developmental level of each child. The preschool curriculum includes communication, science, math, social studies, music, art, large and small muscle development, and faith lessons. Field trips are taken throughout the year to enrich the curriculum. Visitors may come to the school to talk about a hobby, and interest, or a career. Special activities and celebrations are scheduled several times a year. Parents are invited to join in these educational and fun times.
VOLUNTARY PRE-KINDERGARTEN
Noah’s Ark offers the state-funded Voluntary pre Kindergarten (VPK) for our four year olds. This is a specialized curriculum to insure that children are prepared to attend Kindergarten. To be eligible for the VPK Program, children must turn 4 prior to September 1st. Noah’s Ark provides the VPK program to all children currently enrolled. Extra space is available to new children who are enrolling at Noah’s Ark to attend out VPK program.
The VPK curriculum is taught from 8:30am to 11:30am. Child care is available before and after the VPK hours.
SCHOOL AGE AFTER SCHOOL CARE
Child care at Noah’s Ark does not end when your children finish preschool. We also offer afterschool care for school age children. The teachers for this program are well-trained in child development programs for school age children. They help the children with their home work, they teach the children relevant Christian values, and strive to enhance positive self images. The “can do” approach is promoted for homework and relationships with each other. Games and lessons are often centered around helping the children feel good about themselves. We encourage self-discipline and a “stop and think” method for problem solving. We find that children who learn to respect each other and their differences are usually able to work out disagreements in a positive manner. Children are picked up from Cleveland Court, Carlton Palmore, Dixieland, Highlands grove and Southwest Elementary Schools. Other schools will be considered. A nutritious snack is served when the children arrive at the center.
SCHOOL AGE DAY CAMPS
When school is not in session, Noah’s Ark offers day camps for our school age children. The day camps are opened the same hours as the child care center-7:00am to 6:00pm. Holiday and summer day camps include field trips to the zoo, parks, movies, bowling, swimming and games, arts and crafts, and special events. Summer day camp begins the day after school ends for the summer and continues until school begins again in August. Holiday day camps are offered throughout the year on public school holidays. Holiday camps have special activities to celebrate the holiday. Breakfast, lunch and snacks are provided for all day camps.
WELCOME FROM NOAH'S ARK DIRECTOR: Elizabeth Laughlin
For More Information
Contact Noah's Ark at 863-688-3869 or e-mail us at noahsarkumt@tampabay.rr.com