The mission of the Day Care and Learning Center is to offer a caring and safe academic learning center and day care service for children of our community and to provide a source of income for The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration to accomplish its ministries.

Many thanks go to all the board members this year who have attended meetings and given their oversight of the school and made contributions of time and talent.  Special thanks goes to the Vice Chairman Amy Johnson, Treasurer Samantha Quinn, and Secretary Helen Fitch.  Much gratitude is also owed to the school’s director, Suzanne Newman, her staff, and to our rector, Lane Hensley for their outstanding work and dedication to our fine Day Care and Learning Center.

The board members who have completed their years of service are Amy Johnson, Debbie Trapp (for Joann Schochat) and Anne Walsh.  Due to Andrea Fox’s resignation this summer, the congregation will elect her replacement for one year.  The board members who will continue through January, 2010 are Helen Fitch and Andrea Fox’s replacement.  Carol Cole, Jeannette Conklin and Samantha Quinn will continue through January, 2011.

The school has been part of the Church of the Transfiguration since 1984.  82 students are currently registered and 17 staff employed.  For the school year 2008, the school maintained its licensing with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.  This year we chose not to renew the accreditation of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), due to its stand of requiring Bachelor Degrees for staff. However, we are pursuing the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scales’ (ECER) standards, and Suzanne is involved in the Southwest Suburban Co-Hort group of directors who are all committed to achieving excellence in standards to better their curriculum and schools.  The school had 16 staff attend the Chicago Association for the Education of Young Children (CAEYC) conference in February of 2008.  19 staff received CPR and First Aid training in October of 2008.

Highlights of the year were:  the Art Fair in early spring where all children’s art was displayed for families to view, Staff Appreciation Day, the May graduation, the 2nd Annual September family breakfast (30 attended) sponsored by the board and march (60 marchers) in the Palos Park Parade, and the fall “Meet and Greet” evening where families and teachers came together before the start of school.  A new program for this year included adding a second chapel time to the curriculum that Suzanne presents on Tuesdays for the children who miss Lane on Mondays.  It includes bible stories, music, and hands on learning about the Old and New Testaments.  The curriculum continues sign language, Spanish and has added a focused music and movement class to meet the state needs of physical exercise in addition to playground time.

The Parents’ Group provided gifts for Christmas of 2008 for the children; and $10 gift cards to staff for their birthdays throughout the 2008 year.  They also recognized 7 new babies in our community, 3 ill children, and 1 family in financial need.

The Sharon Louise Irvine Fund most generously gave financial assistance to 5 families this year in the amount of $10,800.

The Day Care and Learning Center ended the year profitably by about $22,000, and made all of its monthly budgeted transfers to the church which totaled $44,010.  Thanks goes to Lane who created a conservative budget for the year, and to Suzanne who did a terrific job of managing income and expenses.  It should be noted that the church and Vestry undertook large and costly building and grounds projects this year of plumbing, sewer repairs and new roof which directly benefited the school.  Finally, the school accepted $26,764 in state aid (Illinois Action for Children Child Care Assistance Program) and subsidized needy families in the amount of $16,785 in addition to the generous contributions the school received through the Sharon Louise Irvine Fund.  In summary, Transfiguration Church and the school had a great deal to be thankful in 2008, and it’s been an honor for me to serve both.                                                                        

Respectfully Submitted,
Anne Walsh
Chairman of the Board