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Early Learning 

BRAND NEW!   in

2024-2025 

New programs for children ages 3 to 5 years old!

  • Quality care and education in a Christian Environment

  • Teacher who model and teach Christ-like behavior

  • Hands-on learning activities

  • ABC  Jesus Loves Me Curriculum

  • KDHE Certified

  • Daily prayer

  • Lunch and snacks (daycare), snacks (preschool)

  • Outdoor playtime

  • Effective communication with parents
     

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Mrs. Deanna Page
Early Childhood Director

I was a spoiled, angry, selfish, lying  child, but because I was raised in a Christian home, knew “Jesus Loves Me” and attended a church where everyone doted on me, I wanted people to think I was good, sweet, generous and kind.  One Sunday during “Testimony Time” I stood up in front of God and everybody and told the biggest whopper ever told by an eight year old in church! I deliberately made up a story about how I was playing with a jump rope at school and there was a girl who was sad because she did not have a jump rope so I gave her mine.  All the people at church said “Awwwww.”  and praised Jesus because I was such a good little girl.  But my heart was heavy and my stomach was all knotted up.  After service, I went by myself and sat in the car.  My mom finally realized I was missing and found me in the car.  She asked what was wrong. I started crying and told her the truth.  She was so mad!  She told me to get myself out of the car and then she marched me back into the now mostly deserted church to “tell the Pastor what I had done!”. Our Pastor and his wife at that time were very elderly.  (Especially to an eight year old!).  With the wisdom of age and the Holy Spirit, The Pastor began to calm my mom down, while his wife began to speak ever so softly to me.  After a brief conversation, where she shared with me about Jesus, she asked if I wanted Jesus to forgive all my sins.  I said yes.  We walked down to the front altar at our church and I prayed.  From that point on I truly wanted to love Jesus and live for Him.  I was not perfect, I still am not, but I know that my life changed that day.  By His grace I am a new creation and all things were made new. I have been married to my Middle School Sweetheart, Brian Page, for 36 years.  We have been together for 42 years all together. We have three adult daughters and one  daughter who will be a 6th grader at WCA this year. Our adult daughters have added three wonderful sons and four perfect grandchildren to our family. Brian and I both attended a private Christian school in Arkansas City, graduating from there in 1987.  We attended two years of Bible College  in Springfield, MO before moving back to his hometown of Wellington and starting our family.  As they approached school age, it was an easy decision to begin homeschooling our young daughters.  This continued through their high school graduation. Christmas break of our youngest daughter’s senior year, our new youngest daughter unexpectedly joined our family and we started over! An interesting anecdote!  One year I moved one daughter back to college in Joplin in early August and another daughter back to college in Kansas City a couple of weekends later.   We got home to Wellington late on Sunday night and that Monday morning our youngest daughter started her first day of WCA Pre-School with Ms. Darla and Ms. Lisa!  It was a rollercoaster of emotions!  After WCA Preschool, we chose to place our youngest daughter in public school. As she was approaching 5th grade we began to seek other options and returning to WCA was at the top of our list.  We are so happy we made that choice.  She has excelled in so many ways. Returning to the beginning of my teaching experience, I have to go all the way back to when I was twelve years old at that same little church where I prayed. They needed someone to watch a few toddlers during the services. I loved it so much!  I remember planning out the lessons and coordinating activities, decorating the classroom. I taught Sunday School and VBS there at different levels until I left for college.  Throughout the next several years, I continued to teach Sunday School, work as a youth leader and a Camp Activities Director and counsellor.  As our daughters grew, I formed a Youth Theater team called Acts of Grace.  For ten years I was privileged to work with amazing young people serving at camps, festivals, and various outreach programs and churches throughout Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Missouri.  It was a unique experience and I learned much about leadership, organization and boundaries. When that adventure came to an end, I was blessed to work as a costumer for the Wellington Community Theater for a few years. Then my entire life changed.  Our big girls were all moved out of the house, pursuing their own paths and our youngest was starting Kindergarten.  I needed something to do!  After some prayer, I applied at a couple of daycares in Wichita/Haysville.  The first place to interview me, hired me.  After the past several years In childcare, I have learned two things.  God is ALWAYS Faithful and not all child care centers are created equal. Following my state required observations in various early childhood facilities in the Wichita area, (that’s a story for another day!) I could tell that God had led me to one of the best.  I started off in the toddler room, but they soon asked me to move up to the Preschool room.  The owner and administrators at that facility took training and caring for their staff very seriously.  Aside from the state required classes, they worked hard to equip us in every area to be the best caregivers that we could be.  I learned many new things from classroom structure to behavioral management to teaching techniques.  I was able to build on my experience as a mom, homeschool educator, youth director and team coordinator.  I thoroughly enjoyed working, learning and growing there for several years.  Until I came to enroll our daughter in WCA last July.  When Mr. Showman offered me the position to work in the WCA Preschool, I was so torn!  Could I leave a job that I absolutely loved for a job I *thought* I would love? Ultimately, I took that chance and the rest is history!  My first few days at WCA  I was overwhelmed by the amount of space in the Preschool wing of the school. Knowing the state of Early Childhood education and care in the United States, conversations began about an expanded use of that space and the opportunity to serve our community in a much needed way.  Today I am excited to be a part of a team that is building a quality childcare/learning environment that will more fully meet the needs of families in the Wellington area.  It is my goal to give every child that enters our doors a loving introduction to Jesus, a safe place to grow and learn, and an exciting place to explore.  I took a leap of faith in leaving my former job and joining the WCA Preschool team. However, as always, when we take that first step God gives us “exceedingly more than we could ever ask or think”. I am grateful for the opportunity that God has given me and humbled by the faith that WCA has placed in me to be a part of something that will influence so many lives. In Christ Alone, Deanna Page

Blaire Popplewell
Preschool Teacher

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Annie Wylie
Preschool Teacher

Annie has been teaching at WCA for 3 years, starting as a preschool paraprofessional before moving to teach Physical Education and Middle School Science, and now teaching Preschool, with a total of 9+ years of teaching experience.Known for her caring and detail-oriented approach, Annie is highly encouraging to both students and staff. Reflecting on her faith journey, Annie cites 2 Peter 3:18, emphasizing growth in grace and knowledge. Despite struggles with spiritual disciplines, she finds support from a friend who provides daily verses, which she shares with her children and students. Regarding her path to WCA, Annie sees it as more of a calling than a choice. After taking time off to raise her family, she was asked to substitute teach at WCA, leading to a permanent teaching position, which she views as guided by God.

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