04/23/2026
Yesterday, for the first time in over 20 years of serving our community, I made the difficult decision to close for the day due to a lack of staff availability.
We have been incredibly blessed throughout the years with dedicated, loving teachers who consistently go above and beyond for the children and families we serve. Wednesday was simply one of those rare and unforeseen circumstances that none of us could have predicted.
Early Wednesday morning, our Assistant Director--who also serves as a Lead Teacher--underwent emergency surgery. We had already arranged for a substitute to help the day run smoothly as possible in her absence. I began my day at 5am, arriving over an hour earlier than normal to prepare meals, snacks and to ensure everything was in place, since I was informed through the night that another teacher would not be able to come in due to her child as well as herself becoming very sick.
At 6:35am, I received another call--another Lead Teacher had a child who suddenly became very ill. As any parent would, she needed to be there for her child, and of course, that was completely understood.
At that point, with multiple unexpected circumstances and without the staff required to safely operate, I had to notify our families that we would be closed for the day.
As difficult as this decision was, I am truly grateful for the support of our community. With a simple phone call to Tammy Hagan at Screven County Elementary, along with the incredible staff at Screven County School System Bus Garage, I was reassured that our school-age students would not be placed on the bus and that no buses would stop at our center--helping to ensure the safety and well-being of every child in our care.
I want to sincerely thank our current families. While this situation was certainly inconvenient, you responded with understanding, grace, and genuine concern for the staff who pour so much love into your children each and every day.
Thank you for your support and your continued trust. We remain committed to providing a safe, loving, and dependable environment for your children, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back tomorrow morning.
