Stepping Stones Learning Center of Littleton

Our incredible floating lead, Razia, graduated today in Early Childhood Education through ACC ! 🎓✨

We could go on and on about the strength, courage, resilience, and determination this woman carries, but for now we will simply say this:

We are SO incredibly proud of you, Razia. Watching you continue to grow, learn, and pursue your goals while pouring so much love and care into our children each day is truly inspiring. Your hard work and dedication do not go unnoticed, and we feel so lucky to have you as part of our team.

Congratulations on this amazing accomplishment — today we celebrate YOU! ❤️

At Stepping Stones, we often talk about our classroom teams — but today, we want to shine a light on the people who help hold the entire center together behind the scenes: our float staff and aides. 💜

First, our teen aides. There is something incredibly special about watching young people choose a profession centered around nurturing others. After spending all day at school themselves, they come here and pour their energy into children — playing on the floor, snuggling babies, changing diapers, helping with afternoon activities, cleaning, organizing, and resetting classrooms for the next day… all with reliability, kindness, and heart.

In a world where early childhood education doesn’t always attract younger generations, we are deeply proud to see these young leaders stepping up with compassion and commitment beyond their years.

Thank you, Willis, Toni, and Katie. Your hearts matter here more than you know. 🌟

And then there are our floats — the real-life extra arms and extra eyes that keep our days moving.

We truly could not do what we do without you. Literally.

You are the lunch breakers who jump right in without hesitation. The calm presence when classrooms are stretched thin. The helping hands when someone is absent. The people who walk into any room in the building and somehow already know the routines, expectations, personalities, schedules, and needs of every age group.

That is no small thing.

While classroom teaching teams know one room deeply, our float staff know all nine — and they do it with flexibility, teamwork, skill, and patience. They support not only children, but entire teaching teams.

Our lead teachers would not be able to gather materials, complete assessments, prepare environments, support families, or manage the many moving pieces of classroom leadership without competent and caring people ready to step in and support wherever needed.

So today, we celebrate our floating leads and assistants:
Bryn, Lizzy, Amariah, Razia, and Julianna. 💜

Thank you for being the glue between the moving pieces, the calm during transitions, and the teammates every classroom hopes walks through the door.

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, let’s give it up for our incredible in-classroom teaching teams at Stepping Stones Learning Center. 💜

People often see the art projects, the smiles, the adorable photos, and the milestone moments… but what they don’t always see is the intention behind every classroom, every interaction, every routine, and every relationship being built throughout the day.

Our teachers are juggling dozens of tasks at once while still somehow finding the time to build genuine bonds with their children and families. And that takes a truly special kind of person.

Our infant team — Chris, Dawn, Serenity, Taylor, and Baileigh — are the absolute definition of “woosah” when needed. Infant rooms are beautiful, loving, and also sometimes complete sensory overload. Babies are hollering, someone needs a bottle, another needs a diaper, someone else just wants to be held, and unfortunately… none of us were blessed with octopus arms. Yet this team continues to show patience, reassurance, warmth, and calm through it all, making sure every baby feels safe, loved, and cared for.

Then we have our young toddler team — Amarissa, Gabby, Ely, and Maria. This age group requires an incredible amount of personalization, flexibility, humor, and patience. These little ones are transitioning from feeding and napping on demand into becoming tiny waddlers with huge feelings, growing independence, and questionable cup and spoon skills. This team somehow manages to guide them through all of it with love, laughter, and consistency.

And the twos… people love to call them the “terrible twos,” but we know better than that. Twos are comedians. Scientists. Negotiators. Tiny humans learning independence and self-interest while testing every boundary imaginable. And it takes teachers like Katie, Tania, Tara, and Elizabeth to understand how to balance maintaining structure while still giving children healthy control and autonomy.

Then come our older twos and threes. Loud? Absolutely. Opinionated? Without question. Tiny people with giant demands? Every single day. They are full-fledged “threenagers.” But Brook, Ashley R, Sira, and Lexus know how to find the calm and the joy hidden inside the chaos. They know how to lead instead of simply survive the day, and that is a true skill.

And finally, our Pre-K team. Pre-K is basically kindergarten bootcamp… but with naps, emotional breakdowns, conflict resolution, constant problem-solving, and brand new “well that’s a first” moments every single day. The level of teaching, guidance, and intentionality we see from Jovani and Sam is something truly special to witness.

Each and every one of our teachers brings something unique to this building. You are talented, dedicated, understanding, patient, creative, resilient, and deeply appreciated.

Thank you for loving children the way you do. Thank you for showing up even on the hard days. Thank you for helping shape childhoods and supporting families in one of the most important jobs there is.

SSLC is what it is because of our incredible team, which includes YOU. 💜

Helping in the garden benefits children in countless ways. Children develop a connection to nature as they care for living things. They get hands-on science experience, and they learn that work and patience can yield exciting rewards. Observing how fruits and vegetables develop introduces the concept of life cycles and can even increase children’s acceptance of new foods!

We’re excited to see our school garden waking up and we’re looking forward to lots of outdoor learning during this growing season! 🌱☀️🫛🍅

An egg-cellent time was had by all at our Annual Egg Hunt! Grownups scrambled to keep up with the kids as they egg-splored the gym and playgrounds, looking for egg-stra special treats! Many kids looked eggs-hausted as they were whisked away at the end of the event. It’s no eggs-ageration, this fun family event at SSLC couldn’t be beat!

✨ BIG NEWS FROM STEPPING STONES! ✨

We are beyond excited to officially share that Stepping Stones Learning Center of Littleton is now Cognia Accredited! 🎉

After months of dedication, reflection, and collaboration, we have received our accreditation certificate and can now make the official announcement through Cognia, representing the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC), and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI).

So… what does this actually mean? 🤔
🌎 This is a globally recognized accreditation.
Cognia accredits schools across the United States and around the world, meaning our program meets internationally recognized standards of quality in early childhood education.

💡 It’s not just a one-time award.
Accreditation is an ongoing commitment to continuous improvement, high-quality teaching practices, strong leadership, and meaningful outcomes for children.

👩‍🏫 It took a TEAM.
This process involved an in-depth review of everything we do—our learning environment, curriculum, family partnerships, leadership practices, and more. Our team participated in self-studies, submitted evidence, and welcomed external reviewers into our program.

❤️ Why it matters for our families:
It means your child is learning in a program that is: ✔ Held to rigorous, research-based standards
✔ Continuously improving and growing
✔ Focused on the whole child—academically, socially, and emotionally
✔ Committed to strong relationships with families and community

We are incredibly proud of our team for the heart, effort, and professionalism they bring every single day. This recognition reflects the culture we’ve built together—and we’re just getting started. 💫
Thank you to our amazing families for being part of our journey. We truly could not do this without you. 🫶

🌼🌷🐌 Hello SSLC families! We’re celebrating the arrival of spring with a fun scavenger hunt! Pick up a card at the door and see how many signs of spring you and your child can find around the building! When you’re done, return the card and take a packet of wildflower seeds to plant at home! Happy Spring! 🐛🌱☀️

February's Featured Family: The Collins Family!

Families like this one are exactly why our jobs at SSLC are so rewarding. This family has been a long-time part of our community, and we adore them! Please meet Jack, Annie, Milo (3), and big sister Rae (6). Milo is currently a part of our Playful Porcupines Group, and Rae is an SSLC grad- an elementary student who we are still lucky enough to regularly see at SSLC!

How did you first find Stepping Stones, and what made you choose SSLC for your care home?

"We started looking at daycares in 2019 for our daughter, Rae. We reached out to several centers in the southwest Littleton area and toured quite a few of them. Stepping Stones was our last tour—and it completely blew the rest out of the water. From the moment we walked in and were greeted so warmly by Ashley, it felt different. We quickly discovered our Minnesota connection (where Jack and Annie are from), which made it feel even more like home. What really stood out was that Stepping Stones felt more like a school than a daycare. We loved the idea of classrooms, the age appropriate outdoor spaces and especially Ms. Chris for our little baby, we knew immediately Rae would be in the best hands. When we had Milo years later, there was never a question about where he would go!"

What does your child love most about school?

"It’s a no-brainer that their favorite part of school is the people. The teachers and the kids are what they talk about every single day: who they played with, what they learned, and what made them laugh. One of the biggest signs of how much they love Stepping Stones is that at pickup, they almost always want to finish what they’re doing or play a little longer with a friend before heading home. As a parent, of course we want them to miss me while we’re apart, but nothing makes us happier than opening the classroom door and seeing how genuinely happy they are there every day. Even though Rae is no longer at SSLC, to this day, she asks to stop by Ashley’s office for stickers, so the love continues!"

Since your child started school/care, is there something you have noticed that makes you smile?

"The genuine care, compassion, and joy the teachers have for our kids makes us smile every single day. They truly know our children, who are very different from each other, and it shows. They celebrate big milestones, have thoughtful conversations about challenges, and work closely with parents to help each child thrive as their own person. From the classroom to the hallways to the playground, and really from the moment you walk through the front doors, it’s impossible not to smile when you are there!"

What does being a part of a school community mean to you?

"When we started at Stepping Stones, we couldn’t have imagined what this community would come to mean to us. Rae started in September 2019, and within six months we were not only new parents, but also in the middle of a pandemic, both working full-time, and without much local support. During that time, Stepping Stones quickly became our safe space, and it has remained that way ever since. This is where our kids made their first best friends. It’s also where we built friendships with other parents navigating the same stages of life. Being part of this school community has meant support, connection, shared parenting conversations, and truly meaningful friendships for both our kids and us."

Professional Networking:

Real Estate: Annie has been a Realtor for 10+ years and has a passion for helping families find homes they love. She’s always happy to be a resource for SSLC families—feel free to stop her in the hallway anytime!

Tech: Jack is a Software Engineer and is currently Head of Engineering at a Healthcare AI company.

A Note from the Director: We are so honored that The Collins Family allowed us to start this new tradition with them. It only made sense to feature them first, as they have been so supportive, partnering, and heavily involved for almost 6 years now!

Thank you, Annie and Jack, Milo and Rae, for being such a wonderful part of our story!

Santa!!!

This morning our center was filled with holiday magic, sparkles, and yep… a few totally understandable tears 😅 (we see you, Santa-shy kiddos!). But whether they were all-in with the festive fun or preferred to wave politely from a VERY safe distance… our friends each had a chance to meet the big guy! 🎄

Teachers snapped lots of adorable pictures of the willing participants, so keep an eye out—those are coming your way! 🎁

We hope this little visit added some extra cheer to your child’s day. Our hearts are full and our halls are extra jolly today! 💚❤️

— Stepping Stones Learning Center of Littleton ✨

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