If you’ve been touring schools for your child for the coming school year, add a few more to your list.
One new school — Liberty Christian Preschool — opened this week; a second, God’s Garden Preschool, in Dover, will open in August; and a third, St. Clement Early Childhood Center, recently was recognized by Quality Counts for Kids as a 5-Star Center and will begin offering a full-time program in August.
God’s Garden Preschool
It’s been about a year in the making, but God’s Garden Preschool will be ready for students by August.
The preschool is part of the First Baptist Church of Dover and will offer students a faith-based curriculum.
Located in the church nursery, parents can choose from several different schedules. One includes preschool only from 8 to 11:30 a.m. An enrichment package can be added, which includes a nap, lunch and a special learning block, in which students will learn about cooking, sports, Spanish, science and art. School hours will be from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“We want people to look forward to coming here,” Director Christy Carbaugh said. “Not just the child, but the parents, too. We’re definitely going to be really big on family involvement.”
Carbaugh hopes to host activities such as a Mother’s Day Tea and Grandparent Breakfast. She also has two other goals for God’s Garden. One is to teach the students the “fruits of the spirit” — character traits such as generosity, kindness and faith. Her second is to instill a love of learning in the children.
Carbaugh served on the preschool committee after parents continued to inquire with the church about one. She has worked in early childhood development for her entire career. For the last eight years, she worked as a consultant, helping other preschools with accreditation and quality.
Liberty Christian Preschool
Providing quality, affordable child care has been a priority for the Rev. Michael Fredette and his wife, Gina. For 25 years, they have worked in child care, and, for three years, they owned and operated a child care facility in Boston.
Now, they want to bring that same level of care to Plant City.
Liberty Christian Preschool opened April 14, on West Reynolds Street, down the road from their church, Liberty Southern Baptist. The preschool is accepting students ages 2 to 5, and curriculum will include cognitive development, Bible teachings, weekly chapel, art, small- and large-motor-skill development, outdoor play and social-skills enhancement.
“There is a need in Plant City for quality child care and, more importantly, affordable,” Gina Fredette said. “It’s not about the money or the bottom dollar; it’s about quality care for struggling parents. We want to help those in need. To us, as an organization, it’s about teaching children about the Lord and bringing Christian values and putting God first.”
In July, the school will be accepting School Readiness, a state-funded program that assists those parents meeting financial criteria. In August, the school will offer two free VPK sessions, a morning and afternoon session, to help assist in making children kindergarten ready in accordance with VPK standards.
The facility was a former child care center, which the Fredettes took over and upgraded last October.
“The philosophy of our school is to provide each child with experiences that will provide a Christian education that shares biblical views and offers a firm foundation of scriptural truth,” Gina Fredette said.
St. Clement Early Childhood Center
St. Clement Early Childhood Center was recognized as a 5-Star Center recently by Quality Counts for Kids. QCFK works with the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County Public Schools.
“It is an honor and privilege to be recognized as a 5-Star Center,” director Candice Tripi Scott said. “I believe the teachers and staff that made this possible deserve recognition in the community.”
Now, St. Clement ECC will be offering a full-time program in August.
“By extending our hours we can better serve our parish and our community,” Tripi Scott said.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
NEW SCHOOLS
God’s Garden Preschool
ADDRESS: 3223 N. Gallagher Road, Dover
PHONE: (813) 752-6150
EMAIL: preschool@firstbaptist dover.org
REGISTRATION: Christy, (813) 752-6150
DETAILS: Beginning in August, God’s Garden will offer full- and part-time care for children from 6 weeks through 5 years old, with VPK offered for 4-year-olds. Full-time care is from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. A morning preschool program for 2-, 3- and 4-year-olds runs from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., with options to extend the day before and/or after.
Liberty Christian Preschool
ADDRESS: 2508 W. Reynolds St.
PHONE: (813) 752-5432
REGISTRATION: Visit the office between 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. or call (813) 752-5432. You can also reach Gina at (813) 735-5453 or at ginalee fredette@aol.com.
DETAILS: Liberty Christian Preschool is a new preschool that opened April 14. It offers Christian-based programs for ages 2 to 5 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The school features three classrooms for ages 2 through 5. In July, it will begin accepting School Readiness, a state-funded program that assists those parents meeting financial criteria. In August, it will offer two free VPK sessions to help assist in making children kindergarten ready in accordance with VPK standards with teacher Summer Mansell.
St. Clement Early Childhood Center
ADDRESS: 1104 N. Alexander St., Plant City
PHONE: (813) 754-1237
WEBSITE: stclementpc.org/ecc
REGISTRATION: Registration forms are available online at stclementpc.org/ecc.
DETAILS: St. Clement Early Childhood Center’s curriculum provides age-appropriate activities that enrich social, emotional, intellectual, physical and spiritual growth. The program provides a range of activities for the developing child, including block building, dramatic play, creative movement, music, storytelling, games, puzzles, art and much more.
