Classes at First Light Early Learning Center are designed to share a love of learning and to help these children develop intellectually, socially, emotionally, spiritually and physically.
Aiming to brighten the future of all of its students, the First Light Early Learning Center, located at the First United Methodist Church on Camden Avenue, opened its doors in September 2005. A decade later, community members gathered to commemorate its 10th anniversary with a celebration held Friday, Sept. 30.
This celebration, encompassing a reunion family night where children and parents were able reconnect and share info on years since they left the program, hosted approximately 80 past and present students, teachers and their families. It also included a “Memory Wall” to picture students from all 10 years of operation, face painting and a buffet dinner comprised of Jersey Mike’s hoagies, chips, drinks and ice cream for dessert.
DJ Chris Stevens of DJ’S Available Sound and Light was also in attendance to help run the celebration, encouraging kids of all ages to participate in dance, limbo and hula-hoop contests. He also organized line dances to popular songs that all the participants, ages 2.5 to 14, knew.
“It was really exciting for the past students to see their teachers from when they were 3 and 4 years old. A lot of families were also glad to get to see each other,” Lisa Kulp, a board member of the First Light Early Learning Center at the First United Methodist Church, said. “Although the church and the school are two distinct things, we really are one family.”
Open to 2.5-year-olds, 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds, the preschool classes at First Light Nursery School are designed to share a love of learning and to help these children develop intellectually, socially, emotionally, spiritually and physically. When the school initially opened, it was comprised of approximately 50 students enrolled in either the 2.5-year-old class, 3-year-old class or 4-year-old class.
Today, the school now has 131 students enrolled in one of two 2.5-year-old programs, three 3-year-old programs or two 4-year-old programs. The school now also offers a developmental kindergarten class to help students make the transition to grade school.
“We’ve grown to fill the needs of Moorestown community and surrounding communities and to prepare students to enter grade school,” Devika Gill, the director of First Light, said. “I think being able to share a love of learning with the kids and to really see the joy in their faces when they come to school is the best part.”
In the next decade, the school hopes to continue to grow and add programming as it sees necessary, while also working to fill the needs of students heading into grade school. To ensure the school is aware of how educational needs are changing, members on the board have maintained relationships and contact with staff at the surrounding schools.
In addition to expanding classes, the preschool has also added more staff members and enrichment programs over the years. One program, Lunch Bunch, offers students the opportunity to spend an extra hour or two each day participating in either science, music, art or reading. First Light Early Learning Center has also partnered with Candice Carragher, who comes offers a dance lab featuring creative movement for students at two Lunch Bunch sessions each week.
For more information on the school or its programs, call (856) 235–6100 or email firstlight@meetwithGod.com.
