Welcoming a New Child Development Center
The decision last February by Monarch Healthcare to cease the operations of the Caterpillar Learning Center has dramatically shaped how our facility might be best put to use. With the congregation’s encouragement, a priority was established that Prince of Peace continue providing a means for much needed quality childcare. After some deeper exploratory work it was determined that the best way to achieve our goals would be to find a partner organization that would be better equipped to offer these services in our facility.
We are pleased to share that we are proceeding in a hopeful way by partnering with Lakes Area Discovery Centers (LADC), an operator of 17 childcare centers throughout the Twin Cities, most of which are located in churches like Prince of Peace. LADC is excited about the prospect of providing childcare and learning environments for infants through pre-school ages currently underserved here in Roseville. While we still have plenty more due diligence to complete, including putting formal agreements in place, we are proceeding in good faith with the goal that LADC will begin welcoming students and families beginning in September of 2023.
In the meantime, LADC has begun leasing several of our classroom spaces to begin the preparations necessary. They will be renovating one classroom (in the NW corner of the main level) to serve as a model for prospective students and families. They are using an adjacent classroom room and one space on the lower level to organize and store equipment and supplies. LADC was also awarded a grant from the State of MN which they will use to add additional emergency egress doors to several of the classrooms, avoiding the necessity of a much more expensive sprinkler system. They have contracted with an architect to design the necessary building renovations and will be funding this work through the grant.
LADC’s reputation gives us confidence that we’re creating a partnership that takes seriously the vocation of childcare and development. In addition, their history of working closely with communities of faith will create even more opportunities for Prince of Peace to prioritize spiritual growth for families. While there remain many questions and details to be sorted out, we trust that God will remain active with us as this process unfolds.
Welcome the Other Partners Using Our Facility
Hearts & Minds Learning Community (HMLC) will be leasing the larger lower-level classroom and adjacent office during the coming school year. They are testing a new outdoor-oriented pre-school model and will use our facility and campus to begin serving children and families. HMLC anticipates serving up to ten 4–6-year-olds each school day and their protocols are intended to be very Covid-safe. Their lease will conclude at the end of June.
Twin Cities Homeschool Band (TCHB) returns again this school-year. Using our sanctuary, narthex, library and gym (plus some storage space), TCHB offers large group band experiences for homeschooled students on Thursdays. Students come for individual and section lessons as well as full band rehearsals. They can do other schoolwork and study in between sessions but also enjoy socializing with each other, playing outside and in the gym.
Champion Force Athletics (CFA) will be leasing our gym on Thursday evenings beginning in later September to offer competitive cheer classes for children of all ages. CFA is excited to have found a facility in Roseville so they can introduce their program “dedicated to empowering all kids with strength, confidence, and self-esteem.”
As we have for many years, we continue to host Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts on multiple evenings throughout the school year as well as music lessons and rehearsals of all sorts. And don’t forget the pick-up basketball with Milt that happens on Monday evenings. All combined, our facility continues to be a busy place, filled with life and ministry. If you have any questions about any of these partnerships or would like to explore availability for your own needs, just contact the office.