Welcome Back to School

By Barabara Corriher

NC Pre-K:  Children playing, learning and growing never stops at St. John’s CDC, but at the end of August the number of little ones entering the CDC’s doors increases. On Monday, August 27, our facility welcomed 26 NC Pre-K students.  All of our NC Pre-K positions are filled. You may ask what is NC Pre-K? Here’s the answer. North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten is a state funded, pre-Kindergarten educational program designed to provide high quality educational experiences to enhance school readiness for eligible four-year-old children. St. John’s is proud that we were approved to house two NC Pre-K classrooms.

We also want to announce the addition of a new toddler classroom. The title for this new classroom is the Little Ducklings. Too cute!

Listed below are all the CDC’s classrooms:
Infant classrooms:  Little Lambs and Wee Wonders
Toddler Classrooms: Owls, All Stars, Sweet Peas, and our new classroom, Little Ducklings
Two Year Old Classrooms:  Busy Bees and Kangaroo Kids
Three Year Old Classroom:  Jolly Ranchers
Three and Four Year Old Classroom:  Sugar and Spice
Four Year Old Classroom:  Mini Blessing
NC Pre-Kindergarten:  Two classrooms, totally 26 children

Hiring:  With numerous children entering our CDC building every day we need many hands caring for them. In fact, we are in the process of hiring new employees for various positions. We are hiring full-time classroom lead teachers and assistant teachers, who will receive hourly pay with health insurance benefits. The CDC is also hiring part-time floating teachers who fill in where there is a need. If you or someone you know is interested in applying for a position with the CDC you may do the following: Apply online at Indeed.com; apply in person at the CDC, 300 West Innes St. or you may call the CDC at 704.636.6756. For job descriptions, experience and education requirements refer to Indeed.com.

We ask the congregation to pray that the CDC will find new employees who will become part of our loving, Christian environment and for persons who will embrace and love the precious children who will be in their care.

Lelonna Richardson

Lelonna Richardson:  This month we would like to highlight an employee that fits the above description and walks into St. John’s CDC every day full of positive energy and with a warm smile. Her name is Lelonna Richardson. Lelonna moved to Salisbury from Ohio and said she immediately fell in love with the state and the warm, friendly people. She started working at St. John’s CDC on June 2, 2003, when it was located in our educational building. Her first position was as a 3-year-old teacher, then later as a 2-year-old teacher. Before she knew it, she was part of the administrative team. Lelonna completed her bachelors in education, ages birth through Kindergarten in May 2018.  She also has her associates from RCCC in early childhood as well as her administrative credentials. While at St. John’s Lelonna has worked with 3 directors: Krisna Lail, Joanna Smith and currently Courtney Bost. Leloona states, “It is a blessing to work here in a Christian environment. St. John’s CDC has become my family, especially since my family still lives in Ohio.” Noelle, her daughter, has grown up at the CDC, attending our childcare program, our after school program and our summer camp program. Noelle will be a seventh grader this school year at Erwin Middle School. Courtney Bost, our CDC director, shares that Lelonna is constantly upbeat, positive and smiling. “She is always ready to lift up a child or adult who is down and she sees what is special and beautiful in every one of God’s children,” says Courtney. The staff calls Lelonna the “baby whisperer” because she has the magical touch and is able to calm a baby so they are comforted. Lelonna says she is blessed to be working at St. John’s but St. John’s CDC, the families and their children are blessed by Lelonna as well. So if you see Lelonna, be sure to share with her one of the friendly smiles she always wears and thank her for all she brings to St. John’s CDC.