Back to World of Love Home Page
OUR STORY
Learning, Love & Faith Since 1967
World of Love has been part of the Kettering community since 1967, when Church of the Cross began a small part-time preschool known as Beavertown Nursery School. What started as a program for young children grew over the years to include full-day care, infants, and expanded early childhood programs—eventually becoming the World of Love Learning Center.
While much has changed since those early days, the heart of World of Love has remained remarkably constant. From the beginning, our purpose has been rooted in Christian faith and in the belief that children thrive when they are surrounded by love, encouragement, meaningful relationships, and opportunities to explore and learn.
Today, we continue that tradition by creating a nurturing environment where children are known and loved as individuals, families are valued as partners, and learning is filled with curiosity, discovery, faith, and joy.
From a small preschool in 1967 to the learning community we are today, generations of children and families have helped write the World of Love story.
A LITTLE LOOK BACK
From our archives: World of Love’s early history, including a 1968 nursery school announcement.
When our doors first opened in 1967, World of Love looked quite different from the learning center families know today. The program began as a small part-time preschool and grew alongside the needs of families in our community.
And just how much has changed over the years?
In 1968, a day of preschool cost just $1.50.
While tuition, classrooms, programs, and generations of children have changed since those early years, something much more important has remained: our commitment to providing children with a loving, nurturing place to learn and grow.
THE HEART OF WORLD OF LOVE HASN’T CHANGED
From our archives: World of Love’s original Purpose and Philosophy, reflecting the Christian foundation and commitment to loving, individual care that continue to guide us today.
Long before phrases like whole-child learning became common in early childhood education, World of Love was built on a simple belief: children flourish when they know they are loved.
Our earliest philosophy spoke of giving children the “precious gift of love and the knowledge of being loved.” That belief continues to shape who we are today.
We want children to develop confidence and independence, curiosity and creativity, respect for themselves and others, and the courage to explore the world around them. We believe those things grow best in an environment where children feel secure, encouraged, challenged, and genuinely cared for.
Our classrooms and teaching practices have evolved through the decades, but our commitment has not. Children are still at the heart of everything we do.
ROOTED IN FAITH
World of Love began as an outreach ministry of Church of the Cross, and our Christian foundation remains an important part of who we are.
Weekly chapel gives children a special time to explore faith through Bible stories, prayer, songs, and age-appropriate messages that introduce them to Jesus and His love. Our connection with Church of the Cross also provides opportunities to participate in special experiences such as Vacation Bible School and other church activities throughout the year.
Our hope is to provide a meaningful introduction to Christ while creating an environment shaped by kindness, compassion, respect, and care for one another.
World of Love is not a Christian-curriculum school. Rather, we are a learning center with Christian roots where faith is an important part of our community and children have opportunities to begin discovering what a relationship with Jesus can mean in their lives.
GROWING WITH OUR FAMILIES
As the needs of families changed, World of Love grew with them. What began as a part-time preschool expanded to include full-day care and infant care, and in 1980 the preschool and daycare programs came together as World of Love Learning Center and Infant Care.
Through the decades, programs have expanded, classrooms and facilities have changed, and generations of teachers have brought their own gifts to the children in their care. Behind each change has been the same goal: to provide families with dependable, high-quality care in a place where children can feel safe, supported, and excited to learn.
Today, World of Love serves children from infancy through the school-age years, continuing a story that began with a small preschool more than half a century ago.
A LEGACY BUILT BY PEOPLE
World of Love’s story is not only about programs and classrooms—it is about the people who have cared for them.
Throughout our history, dedicated teachers, directors, church members, volunteers, and families have helped World of Love grow. Our archives tell of church members lending their time and talents, teachers building careers here, families supporting special events, and parents recommending World of Love to other families.
That sense of community has carried through generations. Children may eventually outgrow our classrooms, but the relationships formed here have always been an important part of the World of Love story.
We are grateful for everyone who has helped make World of Love a place families have trusted since 1967.
THE STORY CONTINUES
Much has changed since our doors first opened in 1967. Classrooms have changed, programs have grown, and thousands of little feet have traveled our hallways.
What has not changed is our belief that children flourish when they are loved, encouraged, challenged, and known.
We are grateful for every child, family, teacher, church member, and friend who has been part of the World of Love story. Each generation has helped shape the learning center we are today—and we look forward to welcoming the generations still to come.
Come be part of our story.