Grace Children’s Center 2019 Annual Report

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven

A time to be born…We have had six infants enrolled in our newly re-opened infant classroom

A time to plant, a time to reap…We expanded our capacity from 58 to 106 and by February 2020 we will be at 79% of our new capacity!

A time to laugh…

LD (2yrs old) telling her teacher, “E. is kicking me. It’s okay, we are playing playdough and footsie!”

LA (3yrs old) in conversation with his mom, Mom, “Did you nap today?” LA, “No, I don’t listen. I go potty during nap time.”

Teacher, singing brown bear, “I see a lamb looking at me” BJ, “No lamb!” Teacher, “Ok, BJ (4yr old) what do you see?” “I see T-Rex looking at me!” Teacher, “T-Rex, T-Rex, what do you see?” BJ, “AHHHHHH!” (Hides his face)

A time to cry…

Teacher, “MC (4 yr old)why are you hitting your friends?” MC, “Because I miss my mommy!”

Teacher, “CA (4 yr old)it’s not time to go outside yet, we have to clean up first.” CA, “Teacher you’re breaking my heart!”

A time to build up…we now offer care to 32 school-age children from Midway and Des Moines Elementary and Pacific Middle School, and room for more!

A time to break down… Men of Grace helped tear down part of the embankment outside the nursery and built up a fire escape route benefiting everyone who uses the nursery

A time to dance…We have continued to build community with new and continued annual events: A Family BBQ in July, Costume Parade in October, Thanksgiving Feast in November and our first Christmas Program

A time to mourn…some of our staff and families have lost loved ones over the year.  The center has gathered around these families through prayer, meals, hugs, and other support

Time to cast away stones…transitioning from a season of constant change and moving to get the expansion, new classrooms and everything ready; to A time to gather stones together…in 2020 we will build our centers knowledge of child development, social connections for children, families, and staff and obtaining a Level 3 rating in Early Achievers!

A time to gain…continued support and partnership from many members of GLC through donations of school supplies, sound proofing bulletin boards, paper towel tubes and more (Thnk you!)

A time to lose…all of the balls on the roof of the building 😉

A time for love…teachers gathering in the hall, or the director’s office to pray for one another, parents helping parents, everyone loving the children

A time for peace…30% of our children are Hispanic or Latino, 6% Native Hawaiian, 3%Asian, 13% Black or African American, 17% Multi-racial, and 30% white

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven

(Turn! Turn! Turn! By the Birds and Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

Sincerely,

Royale Lockhart, Executive Director

Grace Children’s Center