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The day care ‘crusade’

CCS opens Little Crusaders Daycare to fill a need

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Kathy Dencklau, director of Little Crusaders Daycare at Community Christian School, is greeted by Evan Lager, 2, of Fort Dodge, in the newly opened day care facility recently.

Parents in the Fort Dodge community in need of child care services now have another option available to them.

Community Christian School, 2406 9 1/2 Ave S., recently announced the opening of its new day care center — Little Crusaders Daycare.

The day care opened Jan. 7. It serves infants through elementary-aged children before and after school.

The hours are Monday through Friday, from 5:45 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“This is huge,” Angila Moffitt, CCS principal, said.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Evan Lager, 2, finds a spot to hang out in the Little Crusaders Daycare room at Community Christian School recently.

According to Moffitt, the day care provides meals, outdoor time, and activities.

Kathy Dencklau, who had been providing child care from her home for more than 18 years, was hired to direct the day care.

“We had day care at our house on Friday and we packed up and moved and here we are,” Dencklau said. “It’s been a really good fit for us since that first phone call was made to help expand child care.”

According to Dencklau, every classroom within the school was shifted to make room for the service.

She said the staff was very understanding and accommodating.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Graham Hilbert, 2, of Fort Dodge, is ready for play time at Little Crusaders Daycare within Community Christian School recently.

“We have a lot more space than we even thought,” Dencklau said.

Moffitt said the upper grade levels at the school, seventh and eighth grades, were moved upstairs.

“We moved the big kids upstairs,” Moffitt said. “Our bottom floor is now truly early childhood.”

Dencklau said she’s happy to make the transition.

She has fond memories of the school.

Messenger photos by Chad Thompson
Angila Moffitt, Community Christian School principal, looks on at right in one of the Little Crusaders Daycare rooms recently.

“I got married in this building 22 years ago,” Dencklau said.

The school used to be home to Holy Rosary Church.

“We have a history with this building as a church home, but also as a school,” she said. “Our four kids went to CCS.”

CCS used to be housed in the First Evangelical Free Church on 10th Avenue North before moving to its current location in 2013.

The school employs about 12 people and serves close to 100 students.

About 18 children are currently enrolled in the day care, according to Dencklau.

The day care is available to any child regardless if they attend CCS.

“We also have 3- and 4-year-old preschool,” Moffitt said. “We are a one-stop-and-drop for all of your kids.”

Moffitt said the day care was much needed.

“We are meeting the needs of our community and I think it will really help our school too,” Moffitt said.

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