Trinity Lutheran Child Learning Center (TLCLC) opened its doors as an outreach ministry of Trinity Lutheran Church on August 25, 1980. After the staff was hired, the building configured for preschool classrooms, the playground completed, and the curriculum designed for fun and learning, TLCLC became fully state licensed by the state of Missouri. This was truly an effort supported by our congregation and blessed by our Lord.
In August of 1980, there were over 100 learning centers and home providers for preschool children in Boone County, Missouri. TLCLC was the first Lutheran child care learning center in Columbia. The philosophy and mission were based on Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
The goals were to:
* Provide quality day-care services for families in the church and the community at reasonable prices.
* Provide sound Christian instruction for the children based on the confessions of the Lutheran Church and God’s word.
* Provide a mission outreach ministry for Trinity Lutheran Church in the community.
TLCLC opened with a full enrollment of 30 children and a seven-member staff. Enrollment increased to 62 children in August 1981.
In 1986 TLCLC moved to the new education building and enrollment increased to 80 children and 20 staff members. By 1999 enrollment was 108 children.
TLCLC continues to evolve and grow. Our current program is licensed by the state of Missouri to accept children from 24 months to 12 years old. During the school year, we are blessed to have 81 children per day attend our school, divided into three age groups of 2/3-year-olds, 3/4-year-olds, and 4/5-year-olds in prekindergarten. Over the summer and on school holidays, our enrollment increases up to a maximum of 111 per day with the addition of school-age students. Across all schedules, TLCLC is blessed to provide a developmentally appropriate preschool experience for all our preschool and school-age children.
TLCLC employs 15 full-time and 20 part-time staff who teach, provide for, and love all our students. Our facilities have also expanded over the years with the addition of a full-size gymnasium, library, and school-age playground.
