Little Lambs Learning Center

Schoolcraft United Methodist Church operates this center that caters to families in need of quality child care in their area.

The Center is comprised of two small buildings located adjacent to each other and operates as a non profit organization, receiving most of its funding through fundraisers such as Papa Murphy’s Pizza Parties.

Director

Takako Suzuki has been working with children since arriving from Japan to the US in 1990. Her expertise lies in child development and she obtained her director’s certificate from Santa Ana college. Takako established Kohitsuji preschool at her house before opening Little Lambs Montessori.

She finds great joy in working with young children, and feels fortunate that Little Lambs offers such quality Christian childcare and teaching programs. She believes it is crucial that children understand God loves them and thus enabling their development spiritually, mentally, physically and socially. She is honored to be a part of Little Lambs and its mission of offering exceptional Christian child care and teaching services.

Little Lambs Learning Center is an early childcare learning center licensed and approved by DCFS, as well as accredited by Maryland EXCELS (Excellence Counts in Early Learning and School-Age Care), which offers tiered quality rating and improvement systems. Furthermore, Little Lambs participates in the Child and Adult Care Food Program which allows them to obtain partial federal reimbursement by offering nutritious breakfast, lunch and snack for all registered children.

Takako and her husband run Little Shepherds as an outreach ministry to assist families in need in Mandan and Bismarck. This includes providing financial donations, school supplies and food items.

Teachers

Little Lambs Learning Center’s teachers are deeply committed to the care and education of children, always searching for opportunities to further their abilities in Early Childhood field. All teachers are highly qualified and dedicated to helping every child reach his or her fullest potential. Little Lambs Learning Center is accredited by Maryland EXCELS (Excellence Counts in Early Learning and School Age Care), which is an tiered Quality Rating and Improvement System.

Val Wojnicki has been an educator for more than four decades and holds a Master’s Degree in Education. As Director at Little Lambs, she believes in giving children the training necessary for successful lives as adults. Miss Val is actively involved with her church and sees it as essential that children grow up knowing the right path.

Tiffany has been part of Little Lambs for some time and loves being part of their Infant Room. She loves watching all of the kids grow up while always being there when needed.

Kalynn has been at Little Lambs for more than a year, beginning as an aide and progressing to teaching certification for PreK class. Now in Infant room where her patience and energy have made an invaluable addition to staff.

Toddlers

Little Lambs Learning Center provides its toddlers with a safe, stimulating environment. Their curriculum is specifically designed to promote emotional, social, and cognitive development through play utilizing materials like water, sand, clay blocks puzzles and art supplies as open-ended sources. Teachers at the center are skilled at working collaboratively together in meeting all their children’s individual needs.

Little Lambs Children’s Center of Berlin, Maryland is a private child care facility that offers full-day and part-time preschool programs to 3- and 4-year-olds. Additionally, they participate in Berlin’s 3-K and Pre-K for All program, offering free education to eligible children.

The Congregation has supported Little Lambs by sending both financial donations and food items. Our younger Sunday School students took care in setting out and writing notes for these packages to be sent off, before helping with mailing costs. Over $2000 was collected; both children and teachers at Little Lambs are truly appreciative! Thank you again for being part of their learning center community.

Preschool

Our preschool program provides our students with a safe and stimulating learning environment while supporting their cognitive, social and physical development. Utilizing play as the universal language of children, teachers provide an environment brimming with open ended materials like water, sand, clay blocks puzzles art materials and other developmental toys which allow spontaneous play as well as structured lessons tailored specifically to individual student needs and interests.

At our preschools, we take an inclusive approach to evaluating preschooler progress, continually monitoring each child’s development through observation and interaction. Parents also receive a comprehensive written progress report at the end of every semester.

Mary’s Little Lambs staff members believe early childhood should be a time of fun, warmth, security, education and exploration. Our center is licensed by Ohio and offers an array of educational activities for our students. Parents may enroll their children for one-three day per week programs. Fees depend on which option is selected.