The Tradition of Compassionate Service to Children and Families Continues
The Felician Sisters were established as a religious order in 1855 in Warsaw, Poland. Their ministry consisted of service to the poor, orphaned, sick and elderly. In 1874, the Sisters accepted their first US ministry in Polonia, Wisconsin and expanded their services to Milwaukee in 1907.
Watch Our Video
Child Development Center - 100 years on Vimeo.
The 1907 start in Milwaukee answered a community need for an orphanage for the many children whose parents were either deceased, ill, or whose work made it necessary for childcare. From 1908 until 1968, the Sisters cared for thousands of Milwaukee’s children. Changes in the needs of families in the 1960s highlighted the need for daycare services for working families. In 1968, the Sisters applied for and received a license to operate as the South Day Care Center of St. Joseph.
In 1999, St. Joseph's moved to the current location at Oklahoma and 16th Street after expanding the former school and office space of St. Gerard's Catholic parish and changed the name to the Child Development Center of St. Joseph.
Quality growth has continued to provide the best in early education programs. Having a tradition of providing quality services for their ministries the Felician Sisters made the commitment to seek accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). In 2004, and again in 2009, the school received NAEYC Accreditation status as recognition of high teacher qualifications and high program standards.
Kindergarten classes began with approval from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction as an authorized Milwaukee Parental Choice school. In 2010, the kindergarten program will expand to three full day classrooms for four and five year olds.
To learn more about our sponsors, please visit the Felician Sisters website www.felicianschicago.org
