Child Development Center

Note: The Matthews Memorial Baptist Church Child Development Center is accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs, a division of NAYEC

MISSION

The purpose of the Matthews Memorial Baptist Church Child Development Center (MMBCCDC) is to provide a planned, full-day curriculum to help each child reach his/her intellectual, physical, social, and emotional potential. This quality care provides many learning activities that develop readiness skills, socialization, and self-identity. Our goal is to provide quality and dependable support to all we serve. Registration is based on a first come, first served basis. All children are welcome without discrimination in regard to sex, race, color, creed, or religious preference.

Child Development Center History

Matthews Memorial Baptist Church Nursery School was started October 6, 1964, with an enrollment of three youngsters, and a staff of three adults, Mrs. Gwendolyn Clement (Directress), Mrs. Lois Bowen and Mr. Clifton Boone. In the beginning the staff volunteered its services, and as the school grew, the staff was compensated accordingly.

The school was licensed in 1964 for forty children. By June of 1965, the school had reached its full capacity and staffed with four full time-time and four part-time employees and held our first graduation exercise on the 2nd Sunday in June 1965.

The theme of the Nursery School program was "The Widening Horizon", and the aim of the school was to give the children a greater emotional and cultural experiences. In 1968, Mrs. Clement resigned and on August 9, 1968, Mrs. Geraldine Law became its new Directress. Mrs. Law had previously been employed in the D.C. Public School System.

Under Mrs. Law's leadership and guidance, the nursery school continued to grow over the years. Mrs. Law's leadership abilities promoted many positive results and in August 1977, the school expanded into the R.V. Coger Education Building and received a licensed capability of 100. By the winter of 1977, the school enrollment had reached its capacity. The school continued to grow and develop. Mrs. Law resigned in August 1980.

In September 1980, after teaching at Matthews Memorial Nursery School for eight years, Mrs. Minnie Wood was elected Director and with her leadership the school accomplished other achievements and goals, such as expanding the program to include a certified Kindergarten class.

Following Mrs. Wood's tenure, Mrs. Gloria J. Kearney became the Director of the Child Development Center in 2002. Our school continues to strive to provide an atmosphere of love, fun, and learning away from home as well as at home. We prepare our children to utilize their intellectual and creative abilities in future learning tasks.

No school can count its goals and successes without an outstanding staff. We salute our staff for their continued years of service.

The staff is dedicated to promoting those growing and learning experiences so essential to happy, loving, healthy, and mature children. Our staff has now grown to 17 and the enrollment continues to cling around 100 children with often a waiting list.

In 1994 we changed the name of the center from Matthews Memorial Nursery School to Matthews Memorial Child Development Center.

In September 1998 our school received it's National Accreditation from the National Academy of Early Childhood Program, this is giving us the highest mark of Quality in the Nation.