

Early Education Center
About Us
St. Barnabas UMC Early Education Center opened in 2001. It was established to meet the needs of parents with preschool children in our church community. As we've grown, the Center provides preschool classes for children 6 weeks to Pre-K.
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Our mission is to provide a Christ-centered environment where learning and faith work together. This prepares children spiritually, academically, emotionally, socially and physically for all God desires for them.
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The Center is governed by an appointed committee and administered by a Director.
2023-2024 School Year
For more information, contact
Angela Purselley, EEC Director, at (817)476-6174
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Our Staff
The safety, love and spiritual growth of the children in our care is our top priority. Our staff undergoes continuous training to ensure they provide an environment that is secure, nurturing and rooted in faith. We are committed to:
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Small student/teacher ratios;
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Competitive prices;
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Academic-based curriculum with Christian values;
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Frog Street Curriculum taught in all classes infant through Pre-K
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Hours of Operation
EEC hours are 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with an extended-care option of 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for Infant care
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Classes meet Monday through Friday.
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EEC offers an eight-week summer program. This program is broken into two (2) four-week sessions: May 30 through June 23 and July 5 through July 28. A child is enrolled for the entire eight weeks when enrolled for the summer. Prior registration must be completed before a child can attend this program.
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EEC follows the Arlington ISD school calendar for holidays. Our academic calendar begins the same day as Arlington ISD starts and ends the same day AISD’s end date ends. We also have an 8 week summer program in June and July.
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Registration
Early registration begins in February each year for families already enrolled in the program. Open enrollment begins in March and continues until all available spaces are filled. A completed enrollment form and a registration/supply fee are required for each child to be enrolled. This is a one-time annual fee and is non-refundable.
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Curriculum
The curriculum is appropriately designed for the age groups and to the stage of development of each child. Children learn best through hands-on activities. We believe that a child absorbs his/her concept of God through people, things and experiences that are a part of his/her environment. Thus, a love and appreciation for God, Christ and the things God has made are stressed through appropriate activities. The curriculum is designed to help the child develop in all facets of his life ― physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and spiritually. We have adopted the FROG STREET curriculum in addition to many other resources. Frog Street is a comprehensive, research-based program that integrates instruction across developmental domains and early learning disciplines.
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The cornerstones of the program include:
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An extensive integration of theme, disciplines, and domains
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Social and Emotional development includes Dr. Becky Bailey’s Conscious Discipline ®
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Differentiated instruction
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Equity of English materials and instruction
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Joyful approach to learning
EEC
ACTIVITIES
1 / PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Physical activity benefits children's health and development in many ways. It builds muscles, improves coordination, reduces disease risk and improves self-esteem. Activity may even boost academic performance.
Children will be encouraged to move and play actively every day:
• Infants will have supervised tummy time.
• Toddlers will play actively for 60 minutes daily.
• Preschoolers and Pre-K will play actively for 90 minutes daily.
Outdoor time will be offered when weather permits:
• 30 minutes for Preschoolers
• Another 30 minutes for aftercare program.
Children will have:
• At least 2 structured active play/games daily.
• Continuous opportunities to develop gross motor skills.
2 / Music
Music is a wonderful way for children to express themselves. The music program teaches music awareness through rhythms and patterns, listening skills, instrumentation, finger plays, singing and musical movement. Exploring these different variations of music gives children a sense of accomplishment and makes them feel good about themselves. We have musical performances each year involving all classes which is shared and enjoyed with families.
3 / Chapel
Children will attend chapel in the sanctuary. During this time, the children will sing songs, hear a Bible story and talk about God and the Bible. This will be in addition to the Bible stories that are read and the spiritual growth that will take place in their individual classrooms.
For more information, contact Angela Purselley
EEC Director, at (817) 476-6174.