About Us
First Church Academy for Young Children (FCAYC) operates as an outreach ministry of the First Church of Christ Congregational. We are housed in the First Church building, in West Hartford Center. We are a state licensed, non-profit program open to all children regardless of their faith backgrounds.
We are non-sectarian and do not teach religious doctrine. All are welcome at the Academy. The First Church Academy Advisory board is made up of both school staff and church members and has general oversight of the school.
Mission & Philosophy
Our mission is to provide an encouraging, loving, learning environment that nurtures the growth of the whole child. We are committed to honoring individuality, fostering creativity and independence, sparking curiosity, and instilling a life-long love of learning.
At First Church Academy for Young Children, we believe that children learn best through play. To that end, we work to create play-based learning environments that promote open-ended exploration and encourage risk-taking and growth. These learning experiences consider each child’s developmental, individual, and sociocultural needs.