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Interest in Further Information
Children's Center Virtual Tour
The Lutheran Home Children’s Center was established in 1991 to provide the opportunity for employees to leave their children in a warm, caring environment. We wanted the best for our own children and have also made the center available to the community.
We believe we can strengthen each family, reducing stresses at home and at work, by providing high quality child care that recognizes each child as a unique individual created by God. We are also committed to the value of a multicultural and intergenerational experience for all children.
Lutheran Home’s Children’s Center is licensed by the state’s Department of Health and Social Services to serve children ages six weeks through twelve years of age. As early childhood educators, we recognize that a program’s success is dependent on close relationships between children, staff and parents. Naturally, parents are welcome to stop in at any time and encouraged to participate in all areas of our program.
Conveniently located in the heart of Wauwatosa, we have a dedicated, secure entrance at the back side of the Lutheran Home campus. Drive up entrance is off 74th Street. Click here for directions to the building.
Children need regular daily schedules which are organized, yet flexible. Our programs have sound educational curriculum geared toward each child’s developmental ability. All classrooms participate in intergenerational programs as developmentally appropriate.
Infant Room: The infant room caters to each child’s schedule and needs in order to help each child in their developmental mile stones such as rolling over, crawling, standing, walking etc. Parents are updated daily on their child’s progress and are able to let staff know important information through a daily log kept in the infant room.
Toddler Room for One Year Olds: In the toddler room the children engage in more structured activities in order to help toddlers begin to learn and interact in small groups. Set scheduling help the toddlers understand their daily routine. They work on art projects, study the theme of the month, and visit the “Grandma’s and Grandpa’s” often. The lead teachers work with each child individually to further their development.
Two Year Old Room: The two year old room focuses on developing the child’s physical, emotional, social and educational skills. The children work in a variety group activities that will help them develop reading, writing, and motor skills. They also enjoy playing on the playground and in the courtyard.
Three Year Old Room: Similar to a full day preschool, the three year old room teaches a variety of subjects and skills to help each child learn. The following are the special learning centers offered in the classroom in-order to develop cognitive, social, and emotional skills: library/quiet corner, writing/art center, block center, computer center, dramatic/home center and the sensory table.
Four Year Old Room: The four year old room plans daily activities that are developmentally appropriate and hands on. The activities emphasize science, math, reading and writing, and art. Other activities such as building, free play, games, and free choice art help with motor and sensory skills.
School Age Group Program – All Day Kindergarten – Twelve year olds: The school age program is available during summer break and before and after school during the school year. The school age group is split into smaller groups by age for programming throughout the day. Special field trips, entertainment, intergenerational activities, educational classes and other programs are scheduled weekly. To maintain consistency with Roosevelt School, the same curriculum and guidelines are followed in the classroom at Lutheran Home Children’s Center. Transportation is provided to and from Roosevelt School only.
Children who eat table foods are provided with meals and snacks by
the center. Children eating breakfast at the center must arrive by
7:00 a.m. Morning and afternoon snacks are provided as well as well-balanced
lunches, planned by Lutheran Home’s dietitian and prepared
by the nutritional services department. (See sample menu.)
Menu
is a pdf
file. You can download Adobe Reader free if you do not have it.
The environment at Lutheran Home Children’s Center is structured so that it is easy for children to behave appropriately. Children are encouraged to talk about their feelings instead of acting them out. Corporal punishment is not considered to be an acceptable method of dealing with young children’s behavior. Verbal redirection and separation from the group, in extreme cases of inappropriate behavior, are used to help children gain social interaction skills. As with every aspect of our program, we believe good communication and cooperation with parents is also necessary.
Upon enrollment, the parent will specify the times and days their child will be in attendance at the center. Flex schedules will be accommodated as long as space is available in the classroom.
Children who attend four to five days a week
receive six sick days per year. If the Child Care Administrator
receives less than 24 hours notice that a child will not be attending
the center on a scheduled day, a sick day is used. When all six of
these days are used, the parents will be charged for days their child
is scheduled but not in attendance.
Children who attend four to five days a week receive ten vacation
days per year. Vacation days are defined as any day a child is
absent and the administrator receives at least a 24 hour notice.
Children who attend two to three days a week receive three sick days
and five vacation days that can be used the same way as described above.
For purposes of safety, children must be left
in the care of an adult at all times. Children are to be brought to
the center at the scheduled time specified by their enrollment. If
the child is to be arriving at a later time than scheduled, the parent
should call the center to inform the staff.
There is a $15.00 charge for each 15 minute increment that a child
is not picked up after the 6:00 p.m. Closing time.
It is the responsibility of the parent to badge their child in and
out each day to ensure accurate attendance and billing records.
Each child is required by state regulations to have a current health
report on file at all times. (See on-line forms below.) This
health report must be signed and dated by the child’s physician.
These reports must be updated every six months for children under the
age of two years and every two years for children two years and older.
An up-to-date record of immunizations must also be on file for each
child. It is the responsibility of the parent to inform the
Child Care Administrator when their child receives an immunization
and health report updates.
Children who arrive at the center noticeably ill, with a rash, or
a fever will not be admitted to stay for the day. If a child should
become ill during the day, the parent will be notified immediately.
Children will be sent home in the case of any communicable disease, fever, vomiting,
three episodes of diarrhea, or undiagnosed rash. It
is the responsibility of the parent to make arrangements for a sick
child to be removed from the center in a timely manner. A child
must be absent for 24 hours when sent home with a fever, for vomiting,
or for diarrhea. Children who are too ill to go outdoors are
considered too ill to be at the center.
Each child is required by state regulations to have a current health
report on file at all times. For your convenience, we have made the
following forms available for you to download:
Forms
are pdf files. You can download Adobe Reader free if you do not have
it.
CFS-60 Child Health Report
CFS-62 Child Care Enrollment
CFS 104 School Age Agreement
CFS 2345 Health History and Emergency Care Plan
DPH-4192 Day Care Immunization Records
Waiting List Applications
On-line Application (PDF document to be completed & emailed)
Printed Application (PDF to print and mail or fax)
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Carolyn Bell |
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Kris McPhail Kris is the Program Manager of the Center. She has worked at Lutheran Home Children’s Center since 2003. She has her bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education and Administrative credential from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She currently teaches continuing education for adults through 4 C’s. She enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren. |
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Cindy Faris Cindy is the lead teacher in the 4 year old classroom. She has worked at Lutheran Home Children’s Center since 2003. Cindy has an associate's degree from MATC in Early Childhood Education. She enjoys girl scouts, boy scouts and any activity with her family. |
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Aisha Jones Aisha is the lead teacher in the three year old room. She has worked at Lutheran Home Children’s Center since 2004. Prior to Lutheran Home, Aisha worked at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Childcare Center. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education. Aisha enjoys cooking, collecting Betty Boop items, and movies. |
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Trina Delk Trina is an assistant teacher in the infant room. She has worked at Lutheran Home Children’s Center since 2005. Trina is currently attending MATC to earn her Associates degree in Early Childhood Education. She has worked in childcare for over 16 years. Trina enjoys church and gospel music. “I am thankful for the opportunity to serve children and parents at Lutheran Home.” |
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Abidunnisa Begum Ms. Begum is an assistant teacher in the toddler room for one year olds. She has worked at Lutheran Home Children’s Center since 2005. Ms. Begum obtained her bachelor's degree in India majoring in Biology. Prior to Lutheran Home, she taught at the university for over 20 years in India and was a radio announcer for the India radio station. Ms. Begum has her Early Childhood Education certifications from MATC. |
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Janet Oswald Janet is an assistant teacher in the toddler room. She has worked at Lutheran Home Children’s Center since 2003. Prior to Lutheran Home, she worked at Curative Care Networks Children’s Center. Currently Janet is attending MATC to earn her infant/toddler credential. She has her Early Childhood Education certifications from MATC. |
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Vera Townes Vera is an assistant teacher in the infant room. She has worked at Lutheran Home Children’s Center since 2002. Vera has her Early Childhood Education certifications from MATC. Prior to Lutheran Home, Vera worked at Cardinal Stritch Milwaukee Children’s School. |
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Heather McPhail-Bagley Heather is the lead teacher in the infant room. She has worked at Lutheran Home Children’s Center since 2005. Heather has an associate's degree in American Sign Language Interpretation. Prior to Lutheran Home, she worked as an educational interpreter at Milwaukee Public Schools for 6 years and has also worked at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, MATC and Curative Children’s Center. Heather enjoys reading, attending her daughters Irish Dance performances and playing with her children. |
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Charlene Reynolds Charlene is the assistant teacher in the three year old classroom. She has worked at the Lutheran Home Children’s Center since 2008. Charlene has worked in child care for six years and has worked with all ages from infants through school age. Charlene earned her associate degree in Liberal Arts at MATC. Charlene enjoys spending time with her son, baking and taking walks. |
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Katina Richardson Katina is the lead teacher in the one year old classroom. She has worked at Lutheran Home Children’s Center since July 2009. Katina has her Infant Toddler Child Development Associate (CDA) and is working on her associate degree in Early Childhood Education at MATC. She enjoys arts and crafts, word searches, and fill-in puzzles. |
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Cynthia Patterson Cynthia is an assistant teacher that teaches where needed. She also works at the Milwaukee Sign Language School. Cynthia has worked at the Lutheran Home Children’s Center since June 2009. She has a bachelor’s degree in Educational Studies from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. Cynthia enjoys spending time with her children, walking, roller skating, reading and going to the movies. |
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Jeannette Selke I have lived in Milwaukee for my entire life. I graduated from MATC’s Child Care program. For over 20 years I worked with the 2 year olds in the “Kid’s Department” at Marquette Electronics/G.E. I came to the two year old room in Spring of 2010. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family and my 3 cats. |
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Pahoua Yang I am a closing assistant teacher, and work with all ages. I have worked at the Lutheran Home since July, 2010. Curently I also attend Alverno College, where I am finishing my bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. In my free time I play with my two children and love to nap! |
Douglas Smith Douglas is the Lead Teacher in the 6 - 12 year old School Age Room as well as the School Age Coordinator. He began working at the Lutheran Home in fall of 2011. Douglas has a Bachelor’s degree in Youth Leadership Education from U. W. Milwaukee. He has coached and taught swimming at the Y and in the Wauwatosa schools. He is married to Crystal and has a daughter, Hayley. In his spare time he likes to swim, play golf and spend time with his family. |
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Gerri Rademaker Gerri is the part time closing teacher in the Infant Room. Her hours are 11:30a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. She also works part time at the West Suburban Family Branch YMCA Children’s Center. She was the head teacher at Marquette Electronics/G.E. “Kid’s Department” in the One Year Old room, for 13 years, until it closed. Gerri is the proud mom to a son and daughter, and grandma to two grandsons. In her spare time she loves to cheer on the Packers and go walking. |
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Karter ‘Wil’ Wilkening Wil is the lead teacher in the Two Year Old Room. He graduated from U.W.Milwaukee with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. He took a job at a children’s center, while he waited to find something in an elementary school. He discovered he liked working with younger students. He took Early Childhood certification courses through Alverno College. He has worked in child care education for almost thirty years, and started at the Lutheran Home in May of 2011. He has also taught adult education courses at WCTC and presented child care continuing education workshops. In his spare time he makes jewelry which he sells at local craft fairs. Wil lives in a 100 year old home, with two cats and a retired astronomer from U.W. Milwaukee. |
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Becky Schmerbauch Becky is the assistant teacher in the Three Year Old Preschool Room. She graduated from U.W. Oshkosh with a Bachelors degree in Human Services, and from W.C.T.C. with an Associate degree in Early Childhood Education. Becky has worked at the Lutheran Home since 2006. In her spare time Becky enjoys NASCAR races, watching movies, listening to music, reading and she likes to spoil her niece. |
Nancy Wangerin Nancy is the Lead Teacher in the 4 – 6 Year Old School Age Room. She attended and graduated from U.W. Stevens Point with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She has worked in several small Lutheran schools for over 15 years prior to coming to the Lutheran Home. She began her Lead Teacher position in summer of 2011. Nancy is married to Carl, and has two adult daughters, Amy and Sarah. In her spare time she likes to make plastic canvas projects and makes home made special occasion greeting cards. |
Children are admitted regardless of race, color, creed, handicap, sex, or national origin.
Employees of the Lutheran Home will have first priority for enrollment. When employees’ needs are met and openings are available, they are filled on a first come, first serve basis after enrollment forms are completed.
The center provides care for before- and after-school students. We walk the children to and from Roosevelt Elementary School. Students attending another school must be transported by the parents. It is the parent’s responsibility to be sure their child is appropriately dressed for the weather during the walk to school.
The children have regular activities with the residents of the Lutheran Home. They are encouraged, but not required to participate in intergenerational programs as a part of their experience at the child care center. All activities are planned and develop mentally appropriate skills.
As an extension of our curriculum, a number of field trips are taken throughout the year. Child Care uses the Lutheran Home’s motor coach and driver for this. As in all aspects, the parents are always welcome to participate in the field trips. Children must provide their own car seats/booster seats when riding the bus.
6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday
Lutheran Home Children’s Center is closed on the following holidays:
New Year’s Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
For additional information, please contact our Children’s Center, at 414-258-6171 ext. 297 or e-mail Carolyn.Bell@thelutheranhome.org.
Interested in Further Information?
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