Discovering Bethany Early Learning Ministry: A Comprehensive Guide

Bethany Early Learning Ministry (ELM) is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of children. It offers a nurturing environment where children are encouraged to achieve their fullest potential. Located in Indianapolis, this ministry is an expression of Bethany Lutheran Church’s purpose: Living Christ’s love within a changing world. Bethany ELM believes education is a lifelong process - one is never too old to learn. This philosophy is embraced by its Directors, Teachers, and Staff.

The Importance of Early Learning

The impact of our upbringing affects our entire lives. Bethany ELM strives to be agents of impact, helping a child learn and understand themselves and their abilities. Children learn best through play in an environment that allows them to safely explore. Bethany ELM aims to nurture children’s God-given gifts in a caring and positive manner, using a high-quality, age-appropriate curriculum.

Key Factors to Consider in a Daycare

When looking for a daycare, preschool, or childcare center, several key factors should be considered:

A friendly staff
Cleanliness
An experienced care team
Engaging activities for your child
Convenient payment methods
Opportunities for social interaction
Proximity to your home or work

At Bethany Early Learning Ministry, the staff provides all of these services.

Bethany Busy Bee Program

Bethany Busy Bee is a small, charming half-day program from 8:40 am - 11:50 am located at 6240 S. It offers Lunch Bunch ~extended activities options for children 2.5 and older~ from 11:50 am - 1:50 pm. Now enrolling for the 2026-2027 school year.

Core Beliefs and Aims

Bethany Busy Bee operates on several core beliefs:

God has specially created each person with unique abilities and needs.
The aim is to help each child mature spiritually, socially, emotionally, academically, and physically, recognizing and developing their distinct, God-given abilities and addressing their individual needs.
Parents are the primary teachers of their children.

Busy Bee has the best interest of your child in mind as we work to provide a great classroom situation for every child. It is their deep desire that each child feel loved, respected and honored. Busy Bee provides children with a solid foundation for success in life-long learning. The goal is to provide a positive, engaging and challenging environment with opportunities for the children to learn as much as they can. The overall goal is to help each child develop good interpersonal relationships, learning to work out conflicts and interact with others in a positive way. They emphasize cooperative play situations because they believe that communication and socialization skills are high priorities for the young child. God loves us and cares for us, and so they seek to show and reinforce HIS love towards each student and family they meet. Their desire is to partner with the parents in providing spiritual training, teaching the children to love God; and to know and follow the truth found in His Word, the Bible.

Learning Activities and Daily Structure

A typical day at Bethany Busy Bee includes a variety of activities designed to stimulate and engage young minds:

Individual and Small Group Learning Activities: During this part of the day the teachers can work individually with the children, teaching cognitive skills including numbers, letters, colors and shapes.
Circle Time: Circle time is when new centers, units, letters, colors, numbers, and shapes are introduced and others are reviewed. It’s an opportunity for building new vocabulary and improving language skills. Sometimes “Show and Tell” is a part of Circle Time. (Not all classes do all of these jobs.) Attendance is also noted.
Math and Science: These subjects are integrated throughout the unit activities. Children can count out their own crackers at snack or make a class graph showing which vehicle pictured goes on the land, in the air, or in the water.
Daily Creative Art: Children get to express themselves by painting, using markers, cutting, or pasting, whatever the activity, the end product is the student’s work.
Weekly Bible Stories: Children will hear a story from the Bible and receive a new page for their Busy Bee Bible Storybook.
Daily Music and Movement: Your child will be engaged in music and movement activities for about 20 minutes each day. These activities utilize instruments, bean bags, the parachute, bells and drums. Units are often reinforced during this active time period.
Outdoor Playground and Gym Space: Gross motor activities are generally held outside for 30 minutes each day. On excessively cold or wet days, the children may go to the gym. Gross motor and social skills will be a focus during this free play period.

Special Days & Celebrations

Special activities at Busy Bee include vision screening; the Fall Festival; Rodeo Days; Pepperoni Pizza Pajama Day; Valentines Card Exchange; Hunting the Leprechaun and St. Children’s Performances. Special Speakers include Merry Andrew Afoot performing skits, and Firefighters who come speak about fire safety and children get to visit with their fire trucks.

Emphasis on Physical Activity

The physical health and development of all children is important. In keeping with current research and nationally developed obesity prevention programs, (Head Start Body Smart-HSBS & I Am Moving I Am Learning-IMIL) Busy Bee provides opportunities for children to engage in Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) daily via our structured music and movement time, unstructured recess experiences, and specific lunch bunch activities. The science linking gross motor functions in front and in back of the brain, making movement one source of stimulation that impacts all areas of the brain” (169). Building the brain network, via incoming sensory, perceptual and movement information is the strongest during early childhood. These brain network connections are strengthened by consistent, repeated and multi-sensory learning experiences, which in turn lead to increased cognitive understanding and the ability to retrieve information in new situations.

Read also: Global Transformation

Show and Tell

Show and tell items are usually things that coincide with the present unit. This is a good time for language development as each child will be able to answer questions and talk about what he or she brought while the rest of the children are encouraged to listen.

Summer Programs

Summer Programs include Art Camp and Science Exploration Camp, including Vacation Bible School.

Field Trips

Busy Bee schedules a field trip to Littleton Museum and to the Highline Canal on their Walk-a-thon and have snack when they reach the Milliken Park.

Parent Involvement and Community Service

Bethany Busy Bee recognizes the importance of parent involvement and community service.

Parent Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunities are available throughout the school year. You may choose from School Wide Special Events such as: Fall Festival, Rodeo Days, Vision Screening, Picture Day, Walk a thon, Trike a thon, Pepperoni Pizza Pajama Day or Art Gala. Reoccurring Needs such as : cleaning toys, helping set up the playground on Monday mornings or putting playground things away on Friday afterschool. Classroom Specific Needs such as: making copies, cutting, helping with the memory books.

Community Service Opportunities

Bethany Busy Bee is partnering with other agencies to provide various opportunities for families to serve, invest, or volunteer with them. Research suggests that involvement in these activities builds awareness and compassion for others, decreasing depression and increasing a sense of fulfillment through meaning and purpose. They provide meals to the Fireman and Police Station when they come visit with the kids. They collect items and pack boxes for Operation Christmas Child. They collect items and create emergency kits for the homeless as they go over “Feeding the 5000”. They collect diapers and wipes for single moms for the Denver Rescue Mission.

Health and Safety Practices

Bethany ELM prioritizes the health and safety of all children.

Healthy Practices

With your child’s health in mind, best practices recommend that each child use the restroom and wash their hands for 20 seconds before arriving in the classroom.

Safety Practices

A headcount is taken every 45 minutes or whenever classes are moving from area to area. All children are under the direct supervision and within sight of staff while attending preschool.

Transitions and Extended Care Options

To ensure a smooth transition for children, Bethany ELM offers several programs and options.

Transitions

The Home Visit is the first parent teacher conference and it helps establish a positive relationship between your family, the student (your child), and the teacher in the familiar, safe setting of your home. Before school starts each class hosts a “Meet and Greet” event on the playground and in the classroom with the teacher, parents and children. This gives them an opportunity to set up play dates to transition well into the new school year. In addition they regularly open the playground to children who need to visit to get comfortable over the summer; and, their first day of school is only a partial day - full of fun while the parents are having their orientation. As children arrive in the morning, there is an activity in the hallway created to ease the child into the classroom each day. This is an activity that can be done together with the parent or guardian during drop off or pick up. The children will also have opportunities to interact with other classes during music and movement, recess (gross motor), special events, Lunch Bunch, Vacation Bible School and summer programs. During these occasions the children get to meet the other teachers, other children and to visit the other classrooms. This provides an opportunity for a great transition into the next year’s classroom within Busy Bee.

Lunch Bunch Program

Lunch Bunch (LB) is a drop-in optional extended day available from 11:50 pm to 1:50 pm daily, and is offered to children in class or enrolled from Monday through Friday. At 11:50 pm, anyone who would like to can bring a lunch and stay until 1:50 pm. The children eat lunch with the teacher and their friends. This time is an ideal opportunity for social conversation as well as learning to use good table manners. Art projects, soccer, science, cooking, music, dance, and teacher-led structured physical activities or games are planned as well as time for free play. This Lunch Bunch program is to re-enforce physical activity, following instructions, taking turns, working both individually and in a team environment, and peer social interactions. The cost of a single Lunch Bunch is $30.00, which can be paid on that day or with your monthly tuition. Lunch Bunch costs can be reduced when regularly schedule for one or more days per week. This Once a week program takes place on Friday from 8:40 am to 1:50 pm.

Additional Programs

Parents Morning Out: Parents drop the children prior to Christmas during the Christmas break so parents can use it to do last minute shopping or just have some adult time while the kids have fun at Bethany Busy Bee.
Parents Night Out: Parents drop the children while parents may have a date or some adult time while the children enjoy their time at Bethany Busy Bee.
Art Gala: A family evening where various student’s artwork is displayed. These themed events are available for families.
Lunch & Learn: Brings topics to parents about life, parenting, spiritual growth, taking care of yourself, the relationship with your spouse, cleaning tips and many other uplifting topics. The entire event is free, including beverages and appetizers and onsite childcare so parents can enjoy this special “adult” time. Simply register in advance so we can accommodate your childcare needs with proper staffing. Infants are always welcome to stay with the parent during the entire event or on and off, whatever makes you most comfortable. This is a time to gather, listen, ask question, discuss, share, learn, and build relationships. It is held about once a month from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm. Children receive a free lunch bunch when attending Lunch & Learn, and infants stay at childcare for free.

Enrollment Information

Age Requirements

In order to attend Bethany Busy Bee, Children must be between 18 months to 8 years old by October 1st of the current school year. Bethany Busy Bee Early Learning Center is a UPK provider for children that turn 4 by October 1st.

Fees

The Registration Fee is a one time, nonrefundable fee of $200 for one child or $300 for a family. (No registration fee for CCAP approved students.) This fee is submitted with the registration form(s) at the time of registration. The fee hold the space in the class for the student and does not apply toward tuition.

Required Forms

According to Colorado state law, these forms must be on file before the child’s first day of school. This information helps the teacher get to know the family priorities, interests, home routines, cultural and social practices, and/or goals that inform interactions and instruction with children. This form indicates whom to call in an emergency - family, friends, doctor, dentist, hospital, medical insurance and medical home, etc. It also gives permission for field trips. This form must be signed and dated by the doctor or a health care professional. This record must be up to date, signed and dated by a medical professional. Or an Immunization Exemption form signed bye a parent within the last year must be on file, claiming an exemption. We are required to track the number of children who are under immunized or non-immunized for religious, personal, or health reasons. This form acknowledges that the parents have received, will read and comply with the policies and practices outlined in this handbook. Bethany Busy Bee Early Learning Center is licensed to serve children ages 18 months to 6 years old by October of the current school year per State Law.

Special Needs

Bethany Busy Bee Early Learning Center is ADA compliant, and children with special needs are welcomed.

Additional Information

Bethany Early Learning Ministry is a Registered Childcare Ministry as regulated by the State of Indiana. The ministry hires only nurturing, professional people who have a passion for teaching. Staff participates in continuing education seminars, classes, and early education conventions.

Bethany ELM believes in seeing that every child grows and develops to his or her fullest potential. Every child is unique and will develop and grow at their own rate and speed. They embrace each child for their uniqueness. While there is a natural path for development, some children take the path less traveled. No child likes to be away from their parent all day, but they want to make that experience as comforting as possible.

Partnerships between parents and caregivers are essential. Bethany ELM strives to create these partnerships to best support each child's development.

Why Choose Bethany Early Learning Ministry?

Bethany Early Learning Ministry, a daycare in Indianapolis, is an outreach ministry of Bethany Lutheran Church. The daycare in Indianapolis operates as a Registered Daycare Ministry authorized by the State of Indiana and is proud to be a PATHS TO QUALITY - LEVEL 3 provider. The goal is to provide for children a quality daycare in Indianapolis that has a loving, Christian atmosphere.

Bethany ELM believes that each child is a unique and special person, endowed with an individual dignity, which should be nurtured and developed as one with the body and mind. Your child needs the support of a caring and intimate daycare in Indianapolis to develop self-confidence. By recognizing different temperaments and learning styles, by challenging and encouraging, and by working as a team, the staff will help children to develop their identity.

The staff is constantly improving their knowledge through not only the required training hours but also seeking advanced college degrees. They are truly committed to each child’s educational opportunities to give them a solid foundation. They are the secret to the success of this daycare in Indianapolis.

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