Back in the fall of 1994, Patty Wiggins started a non-profit preschool called “Wee Care” owned and operated by The First United Methodist Church of Howe. Twenty years later, the preschool is going strong and coming up on 21 years.
The first year, they had three classes with 20 students enrolled. Those students varied from 18 months through five-years-old. At the present time, they have five classes and average 38 students each school year.
The preschool was opened as an outreach ministry to the children and parents of The First United Methodist Church and the surrounding communities.
“The purpose of our preschool was and is to give our children the finest early childhood education possible and to direct attention to the children’s faith through value education.” said Patty Wiggins.
Wee Care has been under the direction of six different directors in the 20 years. Wiggins was the first director and stayed ten years, which is the longest tenured. She was followed by Carolyn Wallace, Jennie Bullard, Elisha Robertson, Kelly Weatherly and now Tiffany Murphy is entering her second year. Murphy has served as a teacher and substitute in previous years. This fall will be her fourth year overall at Wee Care.
“It’s all based on a Christian curriculum, but it’s part of a Texas standardized curriculum.” said Murphy. “They are actually learning what they would be learning in a regular preschool.”
This fall, Wee Care will be state regulated for the first time in a while. Murphy will be going to a class in July to get her certificates.
Regular church members pay $90 per month, while non-church members pay $110 per month. They discount for siblings and have a $65 non-refundable registration fee.
“Right now we have 26 paid and pre-registered for the school year which is more than we’ve ever had pre-registered.” said Murphy. “We can take up to 52. The max for toddlers is nine and we had that last year but it was a bit much.”
Four teachers and one aid will staff the organization along with Murphy. The operation starts on the first Tuesday in September and is a Tuesday and Thursday schedule from 8:15am to 1:15pm. The summer break starts on the second week of May just before Memorial Day.