For Sara Van Beck, Sacred Heart School in Freeport has become a second home to her. Working there for nearly 20 years in early childhood education and once a student there herself, she is more than excited to welcome a new group of children into a new toddler program.
Designed for 16- to 33-month-olds, nine are enrolled in the program’s inaugural year, many joining their older siblings who attend school in the already established pre-K through sixth grades.
“It will be exciting to have them all on the same campus,” Van Beck said.
Principal Kristie Harren said she hopes the program will benefit families.
“Childcare is a huge need in our community, and we are always looking at ways to support our school families,” Harren said. “We wanted to create a one-stop drop for our families — a place where they can be together as families, and a place parents know even their littlest children are taken care of.”
The toddlers will experience a robust curriculum, rich with vocabulary and sensory activities.
“There will be a lot of hands-on play, sensory and development work, as well as building social skills,” Van Beck added.
For its faith education component, the school will utilize the Seeds curriculum from Pflaum Publishing, to share the Gospel and the love of Jesus.
“There are a lot of Bible stories and songs that come from Seeds,” said Van Beck. “We are able to bring faith into our classroom through music and dance.”
Faith formation also comes to the students through the pastor, Father Dan Walz.
“He really spends time with his people — even the littlest of people,” Van Beck said. “Last year, I would bring my preschool class to Mass every Wednesday, and he made such amazing eye contact with them and afterwards and he would share the Sunday readings with them and explain things in the church to them. He certainly does let the little ones have their time to shine.”
Tatum and John Holdvogt have been sending their three oldest children to Sacred Heart School, and this year, their two youngest will join the toddler program.
“Our Catholic faith is important to my husband and me,” Tatum said. “It is nice to know you are leaving your children with someone who is going to instill in them the same values you strive for at home.
“I am excited Sacred Heart is taking this leap of faith and saying ‘yes’ to this toddler program. I am grateful they saw the need in the community and wanted to ease the burden of finding childcare on parents.”
Taking the leap to provide a toddler program has at times, been a leap over hurdles, but Harren feels the Holy Spirit has been guiding the process.
“I first went to Father Dan with the idea,” Harren said. “Then our finance council was hugely in support of it,” she said. “We have had community members donate; the Catholic Schools Center of Excellence provided us with a grant and some local businesses have also supported financially. Our biggest hurdle has been the state licensing and regulations. Sara has spearheaded all the state requirements and has done a phenomenal job.”
Preschool and toddler classrooms require further childcare licensing in addition to that needed for Sacred Heart School’s kindergarten through sixth-grade classrooms.
“I would say it is about communication and having a relationship with your licensor,” Van Beck said. “Last year all the state licensing went online and everything we had completed needed to be retyped and uploaded to their new hub. And, when you start something new, you have to be prepared to bring everything up to code. For example, we needed an extra playground. But God wanted it to happen, so he provided.”
Van Beck anticipates a year full of learning — not just for her students, but for herself.
“The students teach us all the time,” she said. “The Holy Spirit works in them in ways we can’t even imagine. Kids forgive so easily. They don’t hold grudges.”
“Another kid in the classroom can have snot wiped down their sleeve, and their peers don’t care,” Harren added. “They don’t judge. They love unconditionally and they love greatly.”
“As adults, we make things complicated,” Van Beck said. “God reminds us through children to keep it simple.”
Pictured above: The Holdvogt family includes daughters, at top from left, Zelie, 6 and Cecelia, 7.