Saddleback Children's Center

Saddleback Children's Center offers Preschool for children ages 2½-5 years and Jumpstart Preschool for children 2½ and older. The daily program includes Arrival & Free Play, Opening Circle, Outside Play Time, Snack, Mid-Morning Circle, Learning Center Activities, Closing Circle, Lunch Time, Rest Time, Snack, Outside Play Time, Circle Time, and Learning Center Activities. Circle time may include a lesson of the day, stories or Bible stories, Bible verse, songs, job chart, Pledge of Allegiance, share time, color, number, or shape of the month, calendar, and weather.

Programs

• Preschool — 2½-5 years of age
• Jumpstart Preschool — 2½ and older · Designed for children who may not be toilet-trained or are too old for a toddler program.

At a glance

• Ages: 2–5 years old
• General schedule: Daily program includes Arrival & Free Play, Opening Circle, Outside Play Time, Snack, Mid-Morning Circle, Learning Center Activities, Closing Circle, Lunch Time, Rest Time, Snack, Outside Play Time, Circle Time, and Learning Center Activities. Circle times may include lesson of the day, stories/Bible stories, Bible verse, songs, job chart, Pledge of Allegiance, share time, color/number/shape of the month, calendar, and weather.

About the provider

Saddleback Children's Center was established in 1983, has served families in Rancho Santa Margarita since 1988, opened in the new facility on February 14, 1989, and has been accredited since 1992. It is a non-profit institution operated by Community Lutheran Church. Teachers are certified by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the center has been accredited by NAEYC since 1992, and it renewed its 5-year reaccreditation in October 2024.

• Dance — Extracurricular program; please visit showtimedanceco.com for more information.
• Foreign Language — Extracurricular program offered from 11:30-12:15.
• Sports — Extracurricular program offered from 11:30-12:15.
• Lunch Bunch — Monday through Friday, 11:30-12:15 · Intended as an occasional day of fun for children enrolled in the Morning Preschool Program; payment of $10 per day is due at signup; starts in October.

Non-profit institution operated by Community Lutheran Church. Governing board meets bi-monthly and is made up of church members and SCC parents. Admissions statement says the school admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin and does not discriminate on those bases.

Last updated October 4, 2026.