Our Child Care Programs

At a Glance

Facilities:  We have three buildings on campus. Two of those buildings house infants and toddlers and the third building houses our Preschoolers. 

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Curriculum

All classrooms at MLJCLC use the High Scope curriculum model (www.highscope.org) which is a nationally recognized curriculum model supported by Positive Behavioral Support techniques.  MLJCLC utilizes the High Scope Approach to curriculum where the components of active participation learning, adult-child interactions, creating a learning environment, following daily routines, and ongoing assessment are combined to create an atmosphere of learning. Positive Behavioral Support assists children in developing social skills and gaining personal self-regulation skills that prepare them for success in school and beyond.

MLJCLC is the first childcare center in central Missouri to qualify as an Advanced Level Eat Smart Program under the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Program.  The Advanced Level designation is only awarded to child care centers that go above and beyond in providing nutritious meals and a healthy environment for the children in their care. 

  • ​Infant/Toddler Child Care

    What should we know about the services you provide? Better descriptions result in more sales.At Mary Lee Johnston Community Learning Center (MLJCLC), children from six weeks through age three may be placed in an infant or toddler classroom, as appropriate.  These children are served in a classroom team approach because research supports the importance of very young children developing lasting relationships with the individuals who provide their care.  It is through these relationships at MLJCLC that children build their sense of trust, security, self-confidence, and self-reliance that gives them the secure base from which they grow and explore the world around them.

     

    The team of teachers work extended hours with rotating days off so the children receive consistent care throughout their day.  Each child develops at his or her own pace supported by the education programs at MLJCLC.  Based on each child’s individual needs, he or she will advance from an infant to a toddler classroom.  Our infant and toddlers are building thier gross motor skills and we perfect them over these two classrooms. They will also begin to develop pincer grasp and scribbling.

     

    Before moving to our Early Learners classroom our toddlers are potty trained and comfortable following routines. We use Highscope curriculum in all our classrooms to prepare our children when moving from one room to the next. Having a center curriculum helps consistence and confidence with our children. 

  • Preschool at our Child Care Center

    At Mary Lee Johnston Community Learning Center, children from ages four to kindergarten are served in our preschool classroom. The preschool years are fundamental for future school success.  The preschool classrooms at MLJCLC are rich in learning experiences and literacy exposure. These children also participate in our center wide nutritional education program and the JumpStart early literacy program.

     

    Our mission is to ensure all our children are successful and confident when starting kindergarten. Our preschoolers still work on expanding their gross motor skills such as, swinging, somersaults, skipping, and balancing for longer periods of time. They are master fine motor development with the tripod grip when making letters, shapes, people, or drawings. They use their fine motor skills to help develop their independence with using utensils, toileting care, dressing, and undressing.  They are continually expanding their knowledge of shapes, letters, listening, and recalling.

     

     

    Preschoolers are very aware of their friends. They want to please their friends and have similarities in interest to bond over. These children use the skills developed in previous classrooms to thrive and excel in their learning and comprehension. All classrooms in our center us Highscope curriculum. To focus on plan, do, and review. This gives our children the exposure to develop their planning and reviewing skills. These skills are highly beneficial in problem solving.