The first day of school arrives with excitement, anticipation, and maybe a few tears. Parents snap photos while students hold up “First Day of School” signs, perhaps for the very first time. During the year, they’ll learn through play and build social and emotional skills. But what you’ll find most at Kids at the Creek Preschool and Kindergarten is something deeper, something tucked into the heart of its name: community. From their very first “Circle Time” to the big June send-off, these halls are filled with laughter, discovery, and friendships that last far beyond these walls. They’re playing tag in the lobby or sharing the day’s project with their grandparent who came to pick them up. They’re soaring; these vibrant and jovial kids who’ve learned some beautiful life essentials.
For two decades, Kids At The Creek has been a place where time seems to stand still. Inside the Gold Creek Community Church building in Mill Creek, the Kids At The Creek Preschool hallways hold something special—a little bit of magic and a whole lot of memories. Stepping foot inside can give alumni families the effect of traveling back in time to their child’s precious preschool years.
Over the past 20 years, KATC has established a welcoming and memorable presence in the community with roughly 10,000 students moving through their programs. It is home to classes for Tiny 2’s all the way up through Kindergarten. The school not only lays a solid foundation for students’ academic years, but children also gain a foothold on other life essentials and skills: discovery and exploration, kindness towards classmates, building friendships, and caring for their community. Sign language and foreign languages have also offered enrichment learning in the classroom, allowing students to grow and flourish in their communication skills. Along the way, they’ve learned more than just letters and numbers.
Community is a clear core value of Kids at the Creek, as evident in events such as Christmas concerts, science fairs, fire safety classes, art walks, STEM nights, and graduation ceremonies. Partnering with the Preschool periodically, the Hope Creek Charitable Foundation, which resides in the parking lot of Gold Creek Community Church, hosts food and toiletry drives, during which many Kids At the Creek families generously donate. In turn, Hope Creek has provided garden beds for the Preschool to teach students the value of where food comes from, its life cycle, and how to nurture a garden. Kids at the Creek was also honored with a garden grant from the Mill Creek Garden Club in hopes to continue enriching young students’ minds and build motor skills through a love of gardening. It is through wonderful partnerships like these that continue to make Kids At The Creek Preschool and Kindergarten stand out in the Mill Creek community.
The heart of Kids At The Creek is its people. Many teachers have been here for over a decade, shaping lives and celebrating milestones. They’ve laughed, learned from each other, and even cheered when former students walked back through the door for another school year or a visit. To mark this special 20th anniversary, they invited some of the students who first took to the halls of the school back for a “Time Machine” celebration! The reel created for social media says it all: tiny preschoolers going in… and the alumni class coming out taller and older, but still smiling as if it were yesterday. Because that’s the thing about this place—it stays with you. Parents often say they wish they could rewind time, walk their child down the hall once more, wave as they climb the stairs, or blow a kiss as they head toward class. At Kids at the Creek, those moments matter. They always have. As we celebrate their 20 years, one thing is clear; this isn’t just a school, it’s a family. A place where community, connection, and childhood wonder never go out of style.
Here’s to 20 years of memories—and the next 20 yet to come.
Frequently Asked Questions: The KATC Community Experience
1. What makes Kids at the Creek (KATC) different from other preschools in Mill Creek? As Director Sarah Lenaburg—a former KATC parent and teacher—explains, the difference lies in “community.” For over 20 years, KATC has been more than a school; it’s a family. Located within Gold Creek Community Church, the program focuses on “childhood wonder,” where students learn life essentials like kindness and exploration alongside traditional academics.
2. How does the KATC curriculum prepare students for Kindergarten and beyond? KATC provides a solid academic foundation for Tiny 2’s through Kindergarten, but we go deeper. Our students flourish through enrichment in sign language and foreign languages, which builds advanced communication skills. We prioritize “learning through play” to ensure children develop the social-emotional resilience needed for their future school years.
3. How does Kids at the Creek involve families and the local community? Community is our core value. Throughout the year, we host events like Christmas concerts, STEM nights, science fairs, and art walks that bring families together. We also partner with the Hope Creek Charitable Foundation for food drives and gardening projects, teaching our students the value of giving back and the life cycle of the food they grow.
4. What is the “Time Machine” celebration, and why is KATC’s history important? To mark our 20th anniversary, we invited our very first alumni back for a “Time Machine” celebration. With roughly 10,000 students having moved through our halls since 2004, KATC has deep roots in Mill Creek. Many of our teachers have been here for over a decade, providing a consistent, loving environment where former students often return to visit.
5. How does the school teach children about nature and the environment? Through a wonderful partnership with the Mill Creek Garden Club and Hope Creek, our students have access to on-site garden beds. This hands-on experience allows children to nurture plants, build motor skills, and understand where their food comes from. These “outdoor classrooms” are essential for sparking a sense of discovery and exploration.
6. Why is the “first day of school” experience so significant at KATC? Kira, Monica, and Sarah Lenaburg highlight that while the first day includes the classic “First Day” signs and photos, it also marks the start of a lifelong connection. From the first “Circle Time” to the final graduation ceremony, we focus on creating “magic and memories.” We understand that these preschool years are precious, and we strive to make every wave at the stairs and every blown kiss count.