About Us

Our School

Saddleback Children's Center (SCC) was established in 1983 by Community Lutheran Church. Originally located in El Toro, the church and school moved to Rancho Santa Margarita in 1988. The school opened in its new facility on February 14, 1989 and has been serving families in the Rancho Santa Margarita area ever since. SCC is a non-profit institution operated by Community Lutheran Church. The governing board, made up of church members and SCC parents, meets bi-monthly and is responsible for the practical operation of the school. We are licensed through the Department of Social Services, facility license # 300606937. 


Accredited since 1992, through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), SCC strives to meet the highest standards possible in an early childhood program. We are re-accredited every five years, which ensures that our program is current with the latest findings in the field. To learn more about NAEYC accredited schools visit their website at NAEYC.com.




Our Philosophy

Saddleback Children's Center (SCC) is a part of Community Lutheran Church and relates the Christian message of faith, love and acceptance to children in a changing world. Started in 1983 as an extension of the church ministry, our preschool has flourished. We strive to provide a first educational experience which helps each child develop to his or her full potential by providing a warm, safe and nurturing environment in a developmentally appropriate program. We believe that children need, expect and deserve to be guided in a way that will help them be happy, healthy, safe and well adjusted. Our school admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies or any school administered programs.

 



Our Goals

  • To provide a Christian environment of love and trust in which a child can develop a positive self-image and sense of worth and competence. 
  • To provide a developmental learning center where children can interact freely and explore all that is available to them. 
  • To provide opportunities in all areas of development: cognitive, creative, social, emotional, physical and spiritual. 
  • To promote development of gross and fine motor skills. 
  • To foster language arts by promoting listening and communication skills through the teaching of different concepts about the world around them. 
  • To share the news of God's love for children as unique and special people.


Mission

We intend to promote the development of the whole child: physically, socially, emotionally, creatively, intellectually and spiritually. We will provide a warm, safe, nurturing environment in a developmentally appropriate program. We respect and seek to meet the needs of each child by engaging them in positive experiences that will help children learn, grow and have fun. It is our hope that each child will leave Saddleback Children's Center saying and believing, "I am a good person, I am a great thinker and I love to learn."