Treasureland Preschool

Mindy Tipton
Treasureland Director

Treasureland Preschool, a ministry of Christ Church Denver, is a relationship-driven early childhood program where we are dedicated to nurturing the whole child and partnering with families within our learning community. Our mission is to provide a safe, engaging, and enriching environment where children can grow academically, socially, and emotionally. We strive to partner with families to lay a strong foundation for lifelong learning and deepening relationships.

This past year at Treasureland Preschool was one of growth, learning, and deepening our connections within Christ Church and the wider community. Our primary goals included enhancing our curriculum, strengthening our team collaboration, and fostering a welcoming learning environment. The spring semester of 2024 was shaped by establishing trusting relationships with many new teachers who joined our team. In the summer we embarked on a new journey with summer camps, and the past fall our main focus has been deepening our application of investigative curriculum for all of our young children.

KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • Curriculum Enhancements: Implemented play-based learning strategies and integrated developmentally appropriate practices more intentionally. Our program emphasizes hands-on, exploratory learning experiences that encourage creativity, problem-solving, and social-emotional development in alignment with early learning and development guidelines.

  • Summer Camp: Introduced a new summer camp program in June and July of 2024 in response to both parent and teacher interest. We hosted Art, Nature, and STEM sessions four days a week for six weeks, providing enriching summer experiences for children.

  • Teacher Development: Provided professional development opportunities for staff, focusing on relationship-based teaching and inclusive play-based practices. Our educators are committed to continuous growth to ensure the highest quality learning experiences for our students.

  • Community Engagement: Hosted family engagement events, including seasonal celebrations and parent workshops, strengthening the bond between home and school. We believe that strong family partnerships are key to our success.

  • Chaplaincy: Introduced Rev. Todd Blackham as the chaplain for Treasureland Preschool. This initiative reinforces our commitment to providing spiritual care and fostering a sense of community belonging for Treasureland families through Christ Church Denver.

  • Classroom & Building Improvements: Upgraded classroom resources and furniture to create more dynamic learning spaces that support daily living activities, ensuring that each child has access to an enriching and supportive environment. Additionally, we labeled main exterior door entrances and exits with numbers 1-4 to improve campus navigation and security.

  • Enhanced Benefits: Implemented retirement benefits for our teachers who work five days a week, recognizing and supporting the dedication of our educators. Our anticipated outcome of this additional benefit (coupled with offering employment over the summer with summer camps) is increasing teacher retention.

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR

  1. Deepen Community Partnerships: Strengthen partnerships with Christ Church ministries and local community partners.

  2. Enhance Teacher Support and Family Partnerships: Introduce cooperative professional development workshops for both families and teachers. Ensure that we are continually supporting teachers in the classroom to deepen their understanding and practice of developmentally appropriate early childhood education.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated teachers for their unwavering commitment to our toddlers and preschoolers. They make a difference everyday in the lives of our children and families. From singing songs, telling stories, teaching how to paint, or wash hands, the teachers at Treasureland Preschool work joyfully and skillfully with care and compassion.

Thank you to the volunteers, church leadership, community partners and the Treasureland Preschool families for making this year a success. Your support continues to make our ministry thrive.

We could not have done this without Heidi Farr’s exemplary leadership in caring for the building and grounds. Her excellent oversight, coupled with a friendly approach to work, relationships, and mindful communication keeps our toilets flushing, lights illuminating, and spaces sparkling. We gratefully acknowledge Brady TenBarge who generously shares his wisdom and asks thoughtful questions to guide us in human interactions and fiscal responsibility. We express humble gratitude to Fr. Todd and Fr. Terry, who generously pray for our preschool community and invite the Holy Spirit to guide and protect our children, teachers, and families.

We look forward to another year of growth and learning at Treasureland Preschool!