About the ELC
About Early Learning Center
The Early Learning Center is a valued ministry of Manassas Presbyterian Church. Our preschool has been providing early childhood education to the local community since 1964 and is welcoming to all, regardless of background. We strive to recognize and meet the needs of each individual child. It is our hope to instill a joy of learning and curiosity in each child, through the process of exploration, trial and error, and the excitement of success.
Our History
The Manassas Presbyterian Church Early Learning Center (MPC ELC) opened its doors as the first kindergarten in Prince William County on January 6, 1964. From the very first day, the ELC opened as an integrated, both ethnically and religiously, school experience. It is a place for children of all backgrounds to attend.
Since then, 60 years later, MPC ELC has continued to be a valued ministry of the church. We offer developmentally appropriate half-day programs for young children ages 2 – 5 and an Extended Day option for our older students. We embrace our diversity and strive to recognize and meet the needs of each child. The school is governed by a Board of Directors that meets on a monthly basis.
Our Mission
The Early Learning Center (ELC) is a valued ministry of Manassas Presbyterian Church (MPC). In our programs, each child is viewed as an individual person with needs that are unique to him/her. We strive to recognize and meet the needs of each child.
We will work to provide experiences that will enrich and enhance each child’s cognitive, language, social, emotional, physical, and creative development. Your child will come to know him/herself as a part of a group and learn the balance of independence and interdependence.
To enable the accomplishments of these objectives, we provide a “rich in experience” classroom environment that is open, loving, supportive, and nurturing. This will allow your child to develop a positive self-concept, knowing that he/she is a precious child of God.
Manassas Presbyterian Church Early Learning Center (MPC ELC) is registered as a Religiously Exempt Child Day Center with Virginia Department of Education.
Our Beliefs
Manassas Presbyterian Church Early Learning Center is a ministry outreach of the church. Although it is run by a board of Directors composed of members of Manassas Presbyterian Church, the Early Learning Center is not defined as a Christian preschool. We do, however, hope to offer our community a school that, following the example of Jesus Christ, is welcoming to all. Each day our classrooms offer a general prayer of thanksgiving to God at snack time. Our 3 and 4-year-old programs have a monthly chapel time with the Pastor. The focus of these times is to teach the children that God offers us his unconditional love. Our chapel time is based on the beliefs of all children of the God of Abraham, but welcomes all regardless of religious background.
The staff of MPC-ELC believe that preschool children should be exposed to God in a simple, loving way. We hope to plant the seed of who God is, so that in God’s time, and through the education of the families own religion, this seed will germinate, grow, and eventually mature. Our goal is to teach children that they can trust Him, and understand that He is a kind and loving God who made them, not perfectly, but with all they need to grow. We hope that the children see that God accepts everyone — people who are different, and people who make mistakes.
During the month of December, our program does let its Christianity show. Our traditional Christmas program illustrates the birth of Jesus Christ. We allow all children to take this story at the level that is comfortable for the family. While our teachers explain why Christians believe this story is important, we do not expect the children to come away with religious understanding or devotion.
If you have any questions about this component of our program, please feel free to contact the director or the pastor.
