OUR MISSION
Our mission is to be, in conjunction with Transfiguration Lutheran Church, a warm, loving, healthy, and stimulating environment for our community. As children of God, we teach and model positive self-image, individuality, independence, and respect of others' rights and properties. Children will be offered the opportunity to grow and develop spiritually, cognitively, emotionally, and physically. Each child learns of his/her own self-worth through seeing his/her individual importance in the eyes of the caregivers and of God while also learning the importance of others and respecting their rights.
MAKING NUTRITION OUR PRIORITY
A nutritious diet is a huge part of growth and development. It's all about enjoying a wide variety of great-tasting, healthy foods to keep our kids energized and thriving. A wholesome diet includes:
WHOLE GRAINS
PROTEINS
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FRUITS & VEGETABLES
DAIRY
HEALTHY OILS
WATER
“TLC-ELC strives to provide nutritious meals and snacks as a foundation for their kids to learn and grow. Providing the nutritional knowledge to support TLC has been a rewarding experience for over a decade.”
— Mercedes Delgehausen, MPH, RD
Our History
1985
Founded in 1985, Transfiguration Lutheran Church observed a need for quality, Christian, early-childhood education in our community and started TLC-ELC to help meet that need. With continued growth, TLC-ELC added programs to continue to meet the needs of families in their community.
1989
Barb Wigstadt was hired as the new director of the daycare center. The population of the center was about 53 children, preschool & latchkey.
1990
Started Toddler Program & the playground was set up in front of the church on 110th Street.
1992
TLC Daycare became Accredited through the National Association of Educators of Young Children (NAEYC), and changed its licensing capacity to 65. Started serving hot meals. Joined the Evangelical Lutheran Education Association (ELEA), the education arm of the ELCA church.
1993
Changed name to TLC Early Learning Center, changed policy to take only full-time children.
1994
Added Infant program, increased capacity to 75. Made major improvements to the playground.
1995
Karen Syverson Wenge presented the idea of a separate kindergarten program. ACCREDITATION AWARDED. TLC-ELC participates in Vacation Bible School.
1998
ACCREDITATION AWARDED.
1999
Started a private kindergarten at TLC-ELC in September. There is an extensive waiting list for all the rooms, our reputation is one of the highest in the area. We help pay for college classes for our staff for ongoing training, we have been involved in hosting an early childhood conference for 4 years, 5 of our staff give training to other centers and local colleges, we were involved in the ELCA Certification Program for Early Childhood Programs, which will establish the process and procedures that other ELCA churches and centers will follow.
2001
Became an official Ministry of Transfiguration Lutheran Church. ACCREDITATION AWARDED.
2003
Barb Wigstadt was chosen to sit on the NAEYC Decision Commission to review Accredited programs in Washington D.C. (from 2003 – 2006).
2004
Renovation of Transfiguration Lutheran Church, the center moved to the old fellowship hall and conference rooms during the first stage of the renovation. ACCREDITATION AWARDED.
2005
20th ANNIVERSARY - bought 2 small buses for field trips. (had been using church van).
2007
TLC-ELC started a Website, linked to Transfiguration’s Website. The director of the early learning center became an employee of Transfiguration Lutheran Church. Updated By-Laws. Updated Business Agreement between TLC and TLC-ELC. Updated Statement of Understanding between TLC and TLC-ELC.
2009
Completed new accreditation standards. ACCREDITATION AWARDED.
2010
25 th Year of operation!!
2015
ACCREDITATION AWARDED. RENEWED 4-Star Parent Aware.
30th Year of Operation!!
2016
Purchased Thomas Chrome bus.
2018
Received a grant from Schulz Family Foundation for all teacher training through TSGold.
2019
All teachers trained in TSGold using the scholarship from the Schulz Family Foundation.
2020
COVID hit in March, our TAC teachers became distant learning teachers. Our college staff came back from school early and joined in where they could help. We received PPP loans and State Grants to cover lost revenue due to COVID.
2021
COVID continued to touch everything this year. The new playground was put in the northeast side of the playground area in October. We ended the year with COVID closing all of our classrooms except the 17 school-age kids who were vaccinated and 10% of our preschool population.
2022
We implemented Brightwheel in September, a full childcare management application that allows families a window into their children’s day, easy communication with teachers and staff through an app on your phone, and easy online bill pay.
2023
After several years of research and fundraising, we were able to put in a security door in May. Parents and staff have either a phone app or key fob to open the TLC-ELC door which increased families and staff sense of security. We started going on field trips again in 2023. It’s a wonderful experience after the last several years of not being able to take children into the community due to COVID.
OUR ACCREDITATIONS
