St. Stephen’s Child Development Center (SSCDC) is a private, non-profit, established community preschool. We welcome families of all faiths and cultural backgrounds. SSCDC provides developmentally appropriate individualized curriculum, teaching to each child’s learning style.
St. Stephen’s Child Development Center offers teacher-directed and emergent child-centered activities through play and discovery. As trained observers, we teach to each child’s individual needs and interests. Our small class sizes, 1:6 teacher-child ratio, provide for a nurturing environment while building a solid academic foundation that is well-rounded and fosters love for learning.
SSCDC offers SEEDS quality teachers who are trained in SEEDS literacy curriculum, sponsored by First 5 Santa Cruz County. SEEDS activities build a foundation in early stages of literacy, which include phonological awareness, oral language, alphabet knowledge, print awareness, and comprehension.
SSCDC provides curriculum that speaks to the multiple intelligences of children including math, music, science, language, art, kinesthetic, and social-emotional skills. Science includes gardening, chick hatching, butterfly metamorphosis, and pet care. Kinesthetic learning includes weekly pediatric yoga. Social-emotional skills are developed through redirection and teaching problem-solving skills with an emphasis on kindness to self, others, and materials.
Each Thursday, Children’s Chapel service is hosted by Reverend James Lapp (Pastor Jim) who leads traditional children’s Christian songs accompanied by his guitar, followed by a story from “The Beginners Bible.”
At SSCDC, the home-school connection is facilitated through weekly informational e-mails, including pictures of activities, which describe the learning objectives behind the play. Parent-teacher conferences are held biannually, to set goals and discuss progress. Each child receives an annual portfolio to showcase their individual experiences through art and photography.
SSCDC is an affordable option that provides high-quality education while creating a caring, home-like environment. We invite you to discover if St. Stephen’s Child Development Center is the right program for you and your child.
Kathy Berens, Director
AS in Child & Human Development
Early Childhood Education Certificate
BS in Psychology & Social Action: Palo Alto University 2013 Outstanding Senior Internship Presentation of the Year.
California State Commission on Teacher Credentialing: Child Development Site Supervisor Permit
Contact:
(831) 462-4453
kathy@sscdcpreschool.com
