Our History
Southern Hills United Methodist Church (SHUMC) has been committed to the education and well-being of children for over four decades. With a strong foundation in faith, community, and early childhood development, SHUMC established the Southern Hills Early Childhood Program (SHECP) in 1987. What began as a small after-school program soon expanded into a full-fledged preschool dedicated to nurturing young minds in a safe, loving, and enriching environment.
Over the years, SHECP has grown significantly, adapting to the evolving needs of families while maintaining its core values of providing high-quality care and education. Today, our program features 13 classrooms and is licensed to serve up to 304 children. We welcome children as young as 6 weeks old and continue to support their development through early childhood and elementary years, offering enrollment through the summer after 5th grade (up to 12 years old).
Our long-standing tradition of excellence is reflected in our dedicated educators, developmentally appropriate curriculum, and strong partnerships with families. At SHECP, we remain steadfast in our mission to provide a nurturing environment where children can learn, grow, and build a strong foundation for their future.
Our Mission
At Southern Hills Early Childhood Program (SHECP), our mission is to provide a safe, loving, and nurturing environment where children and their families can grow together in faith, learning, and community. We are dedicated to supporting the whole child—spiritually, cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally—through high-quality education and compassionate care.
As a ministry of Southern Hills United Methodist Church, we view our work as both a calling and a service to the community. Our goal is to create a Christ-centered atmosphere where children feel valued, supported, and encouraged to develop a lifelong love of learning. Through strong partnerships with families, we strive to create a foundation of trust, collaboration, and consistency in each child’s developmental journey.
Our Philosophy
At SHECP, we believe children learn best through hands-on experiences, exploration, and play. Our developmentally appropriate curriculum is designed to support each child’s unique needs, abilities, and interests. We emphasize learning through play, as it fosters creativity, problem-solving, independence, and collaboration while building essential cognitive and social-emotional skills.
Our dedicated teachers create engaging learning environments that encourage curiosity and confidence. By blending structured activities with open-ended play, we ensure that every child is both supported and challenged at their own pace.
We also value strong partnerships with families, working closely with parents to maintain consistency between home and school. At its core, SHECP is more than just an educational program—it is a caring community where children grow in love, faith, and learning.