Our Vision at St Paul's Child Development Center is to provide a high quality child care and preschool education program for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years. and offer support and encouragement to families, through the church.

    Program Goals
              St Paul’s Child Development Center (CDC) will provide a variety of activities which promote the children’s spiritual, social, emotional, cognitive, and physical growth.   It is our intent to provide a high quality early care and education program where children will:
    • understand that God made them, loves them, and wants to be their friend forever.
    • see themselves as persons of worth
    • make self-conscious positive choices
    • broaden attitudes about others
    • play and learn with people outside their families
    • practice the rule of love in their relationships
    • become stewards of gifts we have been given
    • discover the natural world
    • use the language of faith in interpreting everyday experiences
    • grow in their own journey for independence
    • practice creativity
    • Kindergarten Readiness
    ​PLEASE VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR A MORE DETAILED LOOK INSIDE THE CDC!

    Philosophy
        The philosophy of St. Paul’s CDC is that of child-centered learning. We believe children learn best through play and active hands on exploration. We consider a cooperative learning environment between teachers, children, and families to be an essential part of academic and personal success. The purpose of education in the church is to make God known to all people, using the Bible as a teaching tool among many other resources to provide the best education and guidance possible.

    License
              We operate under the direction of St Paul’s United Methodist Church and in compliance with the State of New Mexico, Children Youth and Families Department. We are licensed by the State of New Mexico.

    Hours of Operation
    7:00 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.
    Full day     7:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
    Preschool Day 8:00 - 1:30

    Program Calendar
    The CDC follows the Las Cruces Public School calendar with the exception of their professional development days and parent-teacher conferences.   Our last full day of the school year is the same as that of LCPS.  We are closed 1 week prior to the beginning of our summer program, which runs for 8 weeks in June and July.  We close the center for 2 weeks end of July through August and re-open on the day that LCPS teachers return to school. We do have a 3 day minimum.  

    Teachers   
             All CDC staff will be qualified by education, experience and highest character.  Our staff have degrees in Early Childhood Education or the equivalent, OR have completed the NM 45 Hour Entry Level Course for Child Care Workers.  All staff participate in required continuing education throughout the year.   All teachers are CPR/1st Aid certified.   All staff comply with St Paul's United Methodist Church policy that requires that all  paid staff or volunteers who work with children  complete yearly Safe Sanctuary training, a training to recognize and reduce the risk of child abuse.    
       
    Our teachers work to enable each child to develop his/her full potential, to be a responsible, caring, creative, spontaneous, happy and independent person. The value of each individual as a child of God is affirmed through the attitudes and actions of the teachers through a caring and safe atmosphere.     

    Our Director has a Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education and over 15 years experience in child care.    

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    All staff members and volunteers at St Paul's United Methodist Church and Child Development Center receive Safe Sanctuaries training annually.