TCCC Report: January 2019

TABERNACLE CHILD CARE CENTER (TCCC) REPORT: Kristen OSullivan

2018 was an exciting year for TCCC as we welcomed our new Director, Kristen OSullivan in January, upon the retirement of Frances Thrift after her 26 years of devoted leadership and ministry. Highlights of this transitional and transformative year including the following.

January 2018

• The children of TCCC began attending weekly Chapel. Facilitators include the child care director and church pastoral staff.
• A monthly bible verse promoting the teachings and education within the classroom unifying the message each month by staff of the church and center was implemented.
• Epi-pen and allergy training was conducted for all staff. Emergency allergy information was posted in all classrooms where necessary.
• Emergency Go-Kits were created to house emergency supplies and documents needed to go with staff during any emergency incident.
• Digital database for families and enrolled children was created.

February 2018

• Pre-K hosted its 100 Day of School Party.
• Emergency Policy and Procedure Binders were created and added to all classrooms and the church office.
• Staff participated in full day professional development taking a full day to become certified in CPR/First Aid.
• New statewide fingerprinting process was implemented requiring all existing employees participate in fingerprinting program through FieldPrint.

March 2018

• TCCC was granted a special use permit providing a waiver from City zoning requirements.
• Exit doors were added to all classrooms as required by licensure and in preparation of increasing occupancy.
• Staff participated in professional development/training focused on positive reinforcements/incentives and logical/natural consequences.
• TBC hosted its annual Easter Egg Hunt attended by many TCCC families.

April 2018

• TCCC staff member Catherine Chop completed training to be the Certified Food Manager.
• Staff participated in professional development/training focused food and nutritional safety procedures.

May 2018

• A new certificate of occupancy was awarded to accommodate up to 80 children and 28 staff.
• TCCC celebrated its teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week. The parents helped to treat the teachers to lunches, snacks, and coffee throughout the week.
• The 2017-18, Pre-K class held their graduation ceremony at the end of May. Families, church members, previous staff, and former director Frances Thrift were in attendance. Portraits were completed by Sterling and presented to the children as gifts from the church during the ceremony.

June 2018

• HVAC: new units were installed for the Williams Building first floor. These costs were covered by the child care center.
• Smoke Alarms were updated throughout the 1st and 2nd floors of the WIlliams Building.
• TCCC’s Leave Policy was updated, including the addition of a Parental Leave Policy.
• TCCC’s Paid Time Off (PTO) and carry-over policy was fine-tuned, with online tracking of earned time and an addendum added to the Employee Personnel Manual.

July 2018

• A Scholarship Committee was formed as a sub-committee of the TCCC Ministry Committee.
  • A Scholarship Mission statement was developed.
  • A Scholarship Agreement was developed and shared with three potential scholarship families. All three children accepted the offer. Other families were contacted, but transportation to and from the center on a daily basis was a hindrance.
  • The Scholarship Committee will continue building a process timeline to establish practices and protocol for the 2019-2020 academic year.
• In January, full time employees were offered the opportunity to earn an additional employment bonus based on six months of employment and positive performance appraisals at the conclusion of the new director’s six months in service. In July, ten out of eleven employees remained employed during the transition period and received bonuses to recognize the added efforts and support they have shown.
• Tadpoles, a communication and record keeping software program based on iPads, was piloted in two classrooms.
• Rock Band hosted by Grove Avenue Piano was offered as an afternoon enrichment program for the summer.
• TCCC incorporated eco-friendly sugarcane paper products such as snack bowls and plates.

August 2018

• Pre-K and Yellow Room classes participated in group swim lessons via the YMCA, transportation by the Richmond City busses.
• Pre-K and Yellow Room classes completed a neighborhood scavenger hunt ending in a pizza party at nearby Joe’s Inn.
• Building permit was issued for William’s Building entryway.
• A new floor was installed in the kitchen as required for the Richmond Health Department for child care licensing purposes. TCCC and the church shared this project’s cost equally.
• Digital exit-interview offered to previously employed personnel was developed.
• Staff participated in professional development/training focused on child development and behaviors, specifically biting and preventative measures.

September 2018

• Due to increased rigor in education practices and a demand in services, TCCC expanded programming to offer a Junior Kindergarten classroom for older 4 and 5-year-olds, beginning September 2018.
  • There are now two classrooms, each with a licensed teacher and one assistant on the second floor of the Williams Building.
  • An open house for the Pre-K and JK was held in August to meet the new teachers and answer questions.
  • The JK room was painted, furniture was refinished, and the new classroom was opened.
• A new sandbox was added to the playground to make way for row house renovations and TCCC new entry. The TCCC storage shed was relocated.
• After piloting, Tadpoles was deemed a positive resource. iPads were purchased for each class and staff began training and using the program.
• Yoga was added as an enrichment program.
• Henrico County and the City of Richmond were hit with several tornadoes and the area was under tornado warnings. TCCC staff and children took shelter in various church and center locations for the duration of the event.

October 2018

• TCCC staff hosted the annual Fall Festival, offering games, music, and snacks for all the families of TCCC.
• Fawn Tin Par became a U.S. citizen in 2018. Her ceremony took place on 10.17.2018 and was attended by TCCC staff and church members.
• Staff participated in professional development/training focused on human/child rights.
• A new wall added to the center to create an entryway/lobby area entering to the playground that will serve as the new entry moving forward. Lights were added.
• New mulch was added to the playground.

November 2018

• A parenting seminar was hosted by TCCC for all families and church members. Susan Holt of Everyday Parenting Solutions spoke on the topic of parenting with boundaries.
• A small gate was added to the back blacktop fencing. Playground fencing and gate was repaired. These costs will be covered by the child care center.
• A new door was added to the lobby and the previous entry to Grove was closed permanently.
• New Job Descriptions were approved and individuals were hired to fill the positions for Facilities Manager and 2nd Floor Janitor.
• FunBus began additional enrichment classes for the Blue Room children aged 18 months to two years.
• Digital request of recommendation for potential employee was developed.

December 2018

• TCCC hosted its annual Christmas Pageant followed by snacks and hot cocoa, with a date change due to inclement weather.
• The sleeping nooks in the baby room were painted.
• A new door in the hall to Yellow Room was added given children direct access to bathrooms.
• WiFi upgrade in the Williams Building to enhance the users’ experience with Tadpoles is in process.
• With the addition of iPads in each classroom, digital versions of labor law posters, the Parent Handbook, Employee Personnel Manual, and program procedures and policies were added to an employee drive.
• The church approved TCCC’s 2019 operating budget of $908,548, which assumes a 2019 enrollment of 79 children (including 4 Pre-K, JK scholarship students). TCCC’s year-end 2018 financial reports are available elsewhere in this document.

Respectfully submitted,
Kristen OSullivan, TCCC Director

TCCC Ministry Committee: Donna Soyars and Mollie Barton, church representatives; Faith Alejandro and Johnna Woods, parent representatives.

TCCC Administrative Committee: Kathy Allen and Jim Soyars, church representatives; David Brown and Jaime Wisegarver, parent representatives.