At Ardent Preschool & Daycare (formerly Covenant Classical Schools,) we strive to maximize each child’s early school experience. Our teachers nurture and encourage our students, developing well-rounded individuals who are equipped to succeed at the next level. We aim to enhance young minds through their academic abilities. Our studies go beyond the basics of reading, math and writing. Extended studies include arts & crafts, Bible, sign language, biblical character development and Spanish to name a few.*
Alongside our academic standards, we offer security and encouragement to create a positive atmosphere that’s conducive to learning and growth. With songs and games, we make learning fun and memorable for little ones. We seek to show God’s love in our everyday interaction. From Bible lessons to the meals we provide, your child is engaged and actively attuned to God’s creation and grace in the world around them. Every effort is made to equip each child with foundational character attributes that will be displayed in their daily actions—while learning and while at play. Ardent endeavors to create a community that serves and loves, and we invite you to experience the difference.
*Our schools offer a variety of extended learning opportunities & extracurricular activities including ballet, tumbling and soccer. Each school will be more than happy to provide a listing of activities offered.
Staff Training
The typical childcare and teacher-college programs do not prepare their students to teach the Ardent Way. Our approach is unique. Therefore, new Ardent Preschool and Daycare hires must complete a comprehensive 5 day, in-class training. This on-campus program starts immediately upon hire and is given by experienced classroom coordinators and continues with lead teacher mentoring. All Ardent staff receive continuing education along with special training such as first aid, CPR and ServSafe Food Handlers certifications.
FAQ
Q: What steps have you taken to ensure the security and safety of the campus?
A: We place a very high value in the security of our campuses, and every effort is made to ensure that Ardent provides a safe and secure environment for all children and our staff. Every Ardent campus is equipped with high definition cameras located throughout our building as well as at campus entrances and exits. Video from these cameras can be monitored in the front office by campus administration where they can keep a watchful eye on all campus activities. In addition to establishing safety from outsiders this system also creates a level of accountability with teachers.
We use the ProCare Software®, which enables us to securely keep track of all the important information we would need to provide exceptional care. It also provides for safe and secure drop off and pick up using the biometric fingerprint scanners. Coded keypads are also used to allow secure access to classroom areas of the campus from visitor access areas.
Additionally, we use the Raptor data security system. This system assists our front office personnel by screening every visitor through data received from a submitted drivers’ license.
Q: In what way are you a Christian childcare center?
A: Ardent Preschool and Daycare was founded by Christians, is directed by Christian leaders, and is taught by an all-Christian staff of prayerfully hired teachers. Although we are nondenominational, we hold to a conservative set of beliefs about God and the Bible, His Word. At Ardent, we believe that faith is for all of life. This means that we endeavor to honor God in all of our activities from our studies to the way we handle discipline in our classrooms. Please feel free to see our Statement of Faith.
Q: How do you choose your teachers?
A: Prayerfully. Each is interviewed by our director and sometimes by their assistants. They must have a credible Christian testimony and be a member in good standing with their church. Directors consider a candidate’s training and experience, and only hire individuals they believe will add significant value to their program.
Q: What type of training is required for your teachers?
Although many of our teachers have degrees, we do not require a degree to be a teacher at Ardent (with the exception of Kindergarten teachers). ALL of our teachers must successfully complete an initial 40 hours of training with our campus coordinator. Each campus offers the same training process to ensure consistency. During this time we teach them how to successfully manage their classrooms according to our established standards. Teachers are then paired with an experienced lead teacher for further training in the classroom. All teachers must pass an ABI/FBI background clearance as well as participate in continuous training throughout the year.
Q: Do you provide meals and have a meal plan for students?
A: We provide nutritious, hot meals for students twice a day (breakfast and lunch) along with 2 snacks. Our meal plan is charted each month by the campus cook who works collaboratively with a nutrition provider to create a well-rounded menu. The meal plan is available to all students beginning in our Infant 3 class and is included in your child’s weekly tuition.
Q: What type of curriculum do you use?
A: Ardent uses the Abeka program. Abeka is the “premier” Christian textbook publisher serving Christian schools for over 50 years.
The Abeka program is a proven curriculum for early childhood learning as it provides a strong foundation for producing stellar students in phonetic reading and math skills.
Proven Results
Ardent Preschool and Daycare is very advanced with its academic training. We believed parents would benefit from the test scores their students would earn from the well respected Stanford Achievement Test (SAT).
We administer the SAT to our Kindergarten students and they typically score 30-40 points above the national average (which is the 50th percentile). Ardent students score in the 80-99th percentiles on average.
Statement of Faith
The following are the foundational beliefs of Ardent Preschool and Daycare. They are also the key elements of Christianity that may be taught in various ways through all levels of instruction.
- We believe the Bible to be the only inerrant, authoritative Word of God.
- We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.
- We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
- We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful men, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely necessary.
- We believe that salvation is by grace through faith alone.
- We believe that faith without works is a dead faith.
- We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by Whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
- We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, they that are saved to the resurrection of life and they that are lost to the resurrection of damnation.
- We believe in the spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ministry
As a ministry we strive to always place an emphasis on serving our Ardent family, and with service in mind we’ve added a Chaplain to minister to our parents and staff.
Our Chaplain works with campus directors and staff to offer spiritual care for employees and Ardent families. The Ardent minister seeks to offer encouraging words to staff members, and will be working with campus directors on local community outreach and international projects. The Chaplain also works in the development of campus Bible studies and will periodically lead Bible lessons when directors are away. Follow the Chaplain and other happenings on the Chaplain’s Blog.
