For many families, choosing the right childcare center is one of the most important decisions they make after their child is born. Parents and guardians seek an environment where children can learn and grow the skills they need to thrive in school and throughout life.<\/p>\n
That’s the mission behind The Academy at Life Fellowship<\/a>, a nonprofit early learning center at Life Fellowship Church in McKinney. By providing reliable childcare for busy families, the academy strives to help children build strong academic, spiritual and emotional foundations.<\/p>\n What age groups does The Academy at Life Fellowship serve?<\/p>\n The Academy at Life Fellowship provides care for infants to school-age children\u20146 weeks to 12 years\u2014and each program<\/a> is tailored with an age-appropriate curriculum. At The Academy, learning begins long before children enter a preschool classroom.\u00a0<\/p>\n For infants, teachers focus on creating nurturing interactions that support early brain development. Staff members talk and sing to babies throughout the day, helping them develop language skills and build important neural connections during the earliest stages of growth.<\/p>\n As children grow, the curriculum evolves alongside them, guiding teachers\u2019 instruction and monitoring developmental milestones, from gaining fine-motor skills to learning to read.<\/p>\n \u201cAs children get older, thinking moves from concrete to abstract intellectually,\u201d CEO Nelson Eagle said. \u201cSo, we’re ready for that, providing activities that encourage that development for learning pathways in their brain. Our Experience Learning curriculum helps create those pathways in the brain that are vital to the development of skills.\u201d<\/p>\n For school-age children, the academy offers before- and after-school programs that include homework support, recreational activities and opportunities to continue developing social skills outside of the classroom. During school breaks and summer months, children can participate in field trips, sports camps and enrichment activities designed to keep learning fun and engaging.<\/p>\n Who are the teachers at The Academy at Life Fellowship?<\/p>\n The Academy places a strong emphasis on maintaining comfortable routines and creating an environment where children feel cared for and valued. That starts with the teachers and staff <\/a>the children interact with every day, Eagle said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe kind of teacher that we want in every classroom [is] that teacher who makes children\u2019s lives happy and joyful and excited to come back the next day,\u201d Eagle said.<\/p>\n According to Eagle, who has nearly five decades of experience working in early childhood education, one of the academy’s guiding principles is making every day special for every child. Eagle believes children are better equipped to learn when their physical, emotional and social needs are met.<\/p>\n \u201cIt helps children develop a joy of life,\u201d he said. \u201cA happy child is a child who’s ready for learning.\u201d<\/p>\n That philosophy also shapes The Academy’s approach to discipline and behavior guidance; teachers offer children pathways rather than roadblocks in their behavior.<\/p>\n The result is an environment designed to help children develop confidence, self-regulation and healthy relationships with peers and adults\u2014skills that can benefit them long after they leave preschool.<\/p>\n Teachers and staff also undergo background checks, adding another level of security to the learning environment in addition to video cameras throughout the property, including around the playground, to document the day.<\/p>\n The Academy also uses a facial-recognition security door lock system to ensure safe and controlled access to the learning center, especially during drop-off and pick-up times.<\/p>\n What does faith-based learning mean at The Academy at Life Fellowship?<\/p>\n The Academy is sponsored by Life Fellowship Church, and thus operates with a service-oriented mindset<\/a> focused on supporting the whole family. Eagle said families do not have to be involved with the church or the Christian faith to attend, and families from all backgrounds and faith traditions are welcome.<\/p>\n \u201cThe faith part of it is: faith in God and faith in fellow man,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Because of the center\u2019s connection to the church, families have access to its resources such as life groups, family counseling or crisis support. Eagle said The Academy\u2019s relationships director can help connect families and introduce them to meaningful relationships within the community.<\/p>\n A family-centered approach<\/p>\n