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† History of CCNK

The Capitol Church Nursery Kindergarten is a pioneer in pre-elementary education. Started in 1926 with the late Mrs. Leona Rivera-Fonceca as the first teacher, CCNK is the oldest pre-elementary school in San Fernando and probably in the whole province of La Union.

When the School was established, its primary mission was to teach children about God, Jesus Christ and the Bible. There were socialization activities, as well as programs designed to challenge and sharpen the cognitive facilities of children. All these, however, were simply contributory to its primary mission of Christian nurture.

Through the years the early learning center has grown in enrolment from about 20 children to the present 254 and has expanded its thrusts. Having adopted the development point of view of education, its programs and activities are based on certain axioms about growth and development.

These axioms are: 1) every individual child is unique; 2) growth brings about change and takes place in an orderly sequence of stages; 3) all aspects of change, namely intellectual, social-emotional, moral and spiritual are inter-related; 4) intelligence develops as it is nurtured; and 5) personality development depends upon the presence of adequate and sustaining personal relationships, opportunities for learning and self-expression, and guidance appropriate for each stage of a child’s growth.

There are three age levels open for the schooling of children at CCNK: Nursery for 3 year-olds; Kindergarten for 4 year-olds; Preparatory for 5 year-olds. The school was officially registered with the Department of Education in 1985 and recognized in the 1986-1987 school year.

Although the school is officially related to the Capitol Church, United Church of Christ in the Philippines, admission is open to all children regardless of religion, race or nationality.

The above article was originally written by Mrs. Nellie F. Apilado, former Director of CCNK and graduate of Peabody College of Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.