Cornerstone Early Learning Programs: Nurturing Growth and Development

Cornerstone early learning programs offer a warm and welcoming learning environment designed to foster the social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development of children from infancy through pre-kindergarten. These programs prioritize creating a nurturing and stimulating environment where children can thrive through exploration, creativity, and play. With a focus on individual differences and diverse learning styles, Cornerstone aims to equip children with the foundational skills necessary for lifelong learning, independence, and a strong sense of community.

A Holistic Approach to Early Childhood Education

Cornerstone early learning programs embrace a holistic approach, recognizing that children learn best through active involvement with the world around them. They channel children's boundless energy into active, sensory-based, and meaningful experiences. Teachers get to know each child, learn their interests, and plan developmentally appropriate, engaging activities that pave the way for lifelong learning.

Play-Based Learning

Cornerstone's philosophy is rooted in the importance of play as a crucial element of early learning. They incorporate sensory activities, movement, and art projects as essential components of their daily curriculum. By encouraging children to explore and play, they help them build confidence, make choices, and learn valuable social skills.

Fostering Independence and Character Development

Cornerstone programs focus on fostering independence and character development. In addition to basic skills, children learn about self-direction, self-reliance, and self-esteem. The goal is to ensure that each child experiences daily success and develops healthy habits, a strong sense of community, and the foundational skills necessary for lifelong learning.

Programs Tailored to Developmental Needs

Cornerstone offers programs tailored to meet the developmental needs of each child, focusing on fostering their social, emotional, cognitive, and physical skills in a supportive and engaging setting.

Infants and Toddlers

In the educational childcare setting, infants and toddlers explore developmental milestones, as they are nurtured and prepared for preschool.

Preschool

Cornerstone offers hands-on, age-appropriate activities to enhance children's social, physical, intellectual, creative, and emotional development. Cornerstone advocates for child-directed learning, fostering intrinsic motivation and self-esteem without fear of failure. Within their home-like classrooms, children are free to be anything from an artist to an engineer. Playing pretend, learning games, participating in hands-on activities are just a few ways children are kept engaged. Plus, they encourage their natural curiosity, and willingness to try new things, so children discover how they learn best.

Pre-Kindergarten

The Pre-K classroom is designed to help children make significant developmental gains, communicate more successfully, and work well both independently and in group situations. Building on preschool learning, Pre-K learning focuses on problem-solving, responsive listening and language usage, as well as social and collaborative skills, with lessons in reading, writing, math, social skills, and physical skills.

Progressive Pre-K

Designed for children who may not be quite ready for kindergarten or who missed the kindergarten cut-off, the Progressive Pre-K class dives deeper into school readiness skills, focusing on more advanced learning and organized skill building.

STEM Preschool

This enriching STEM Preschool class engages preschoolers' curiosity through hands-on experiences in science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Children explore, observe, and investigate, fostering natural scientific thinking by sharing and collecting data. They learn the scientific process, including asking questions, making hypotheses, conducting experiments, and drawing conclusions.

School Age Program

The school age program is an extension of Cornerstone’s early child care for children ages 5 to 11. Students are provided instruction in Bible, Science, Math, English/Language Arts/Reading and Reading Development, Social Studies/History, Music, Computer and Arts.

Creating a Diverse and Inclusive Community

Cornerstone early learning programs often prioritize creating a diverse and inclusive community where children from all backgrounds feel welcome and respected.

Embracing Diversity

Cornerstone enables children and families to experience diversity, and to embrace the understanding and acceptance that follows. They reflect the diversity of the surrounding community in their student body, teachers, staff, and leadership, creating an environment where children learn important lessons about respect and trust in diverse environments early in life.

A Welcoming Environment for All

Cornerstone is a Christian organization that welcomes and honors people of all faiths and cultural backgrounds.

Partnering for Success

Cornerstone partners with many organizations to accomplish their mission, such as Area Resources for Community and Human Services (ARCHS), Bud to Bloom Play Therapy, City Greens Market, Delta Gamma Center, Gateway Early Childhood Alliance, Nature Explore, Ready Readers, St. Louis Area Diaper Bank, St. Louis Mental Health Board, the STL Pre-K Cooperative, Stomp the World, The Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, and University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Nursing. They also work with programs such as the ABC Promise Program of Green Tree Plastics, the Child Abuse Prevention Program (CAPP) of JFS, Healthy Kids Express of the St. Louis Children’s Hospital, and St.

Read also: Benefits of Cornerstone LMS

The Cornerstone Difference: Key Features and Benefits

Cornerstone early learning programs distinguish themselves through a variety of features and benefits designed to provide a high-quality early childhood experience.

NAEYC Accreditation

Cornerstone Children’s Learning Center is accredited by NAEYC, the highest standard in early childhood education.

Caring and Qualified Staff

The teachers at Cornerstone are loving and kind and genuinely seem happy to be working there. The turnover is extremely low for a daycare facility in this city, and they have had the same management for years. All of the highly qualified teachers bring different skills and talents to their classrooms, and they all seem to know every child. The staff members are also highly participatory in the daily activities and the children love them all. Everyone is so patient and kind.

Affordable Tuition

Cornerstone is a nonprofit organization which offers affordable tuition for families at all income levels. The cost savings is due to the facility’s 501(c)(3) status, which enables them to focus on care versus profits.

Safe and Secure Environment

Cornerstone Early Learning Center of Hugo has been designed to provide the safest possible environment for children.

Focus on Spiritual Development

Cornerstone Early Learning Center is a ministry of Christ Lutheran church, believing that the spiritual aspect of development is essential to a child’s overall development. Cornerstone is committed to challenging students to grow spiritually in their knowledge of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ by consistently reinforcing the biblical ideal that God has a plan and purpose for each of our students’ lives.

Nutritious Meals

Some Cornerstone programs have a cook who has been preparing meals for the children for nearly two decades.

Outdoor Play Space

The facility has an outdoor play space which enables children to get time playing outdoors without having to go to a local park, which is rare for daycare facilities in some areas.

Testimonials: Real Experiences from Parents

Parents consistently praise Cornerstone early learning programs for their caring staff, diverse community, and commitment to providing a high-quality education.

A Caring and Supportive Environment

"Everyone is so caring and warm and our son has thrived there."

"Both my kids go here, and I could not be happier with how much they have grown and learned in this school these last two years."

"The teachers are warm and absolutely amazing with the children."

"The first thing you notice when you come in is the feeling of being at home, a sense of community, and caring. Everyone that works there have been wonderful, from the teachers to the front desk person and the directors…"

A Diverse and Inclusive Community

"We are a transracial family, and we are thankful that the diversity of Chicago is reflected right here at CCLC. No one in our family sticks out when we are among the community of CCLC; it’s hard to find spaces like that, so we cherish it. We appreciate that the diversity is present not only in the children, but in the teachers, staff, and leadership, as well. The children are fortunate to think this kind of environment in normal, and are learning important lessons about respect and trust in diverse environments early in life."

"It’s a very diverse school, with kids and families from all walks of life, background, ethnicities, and languages spoken."

A Focus on Learning and Development

"Importantly, I’m surprised by how much my daughter is learning."

"There are daily activities for the kids which happen weekly - music, science, Spanish, art, and gym class. The staff is great; you can tell they are committed to every child’s success."

Enrolling Your Child: Registration Information

Registration information varies depending on the specific Cornerstone program. Generally, registration involves creating an account in the school database system and completing all required forms. A non-refundable registration fee is typically due at the time of enrollment.

Example Registration Information

New Families: Open Enrollment typically begins in January.
Returning Families: Priority Registration typically begins in December.

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