Little Stags and Rams Daycare: A Growing Blessing
From one house to two, the daycare has doubled in size, welcoming 19 children this year into a space filled with love, learning, and community.
Helping Those Who Teach and Lead
Supporting Miege and St. Agnes Teachers
The daycare was created to give faculty the best support possible, so they can continue giving their best to students.
Our Mission
When Bishop Miege and St. Agnes opened the doors of the Little Stags and Rams Daycare, the mission was simple: provide teachers and staff with affordable, high-quality childcare so they could continue serving students with peace of mind. Just one year later, the program has already doubled in size.
History Lives on in the Little House
This fall, the daycare expanded into two houses side by side with 19 spots filled, giving more families access to a resource that has quickly become indispensable. With director Stephanie Holmes leading the team — alongside Amy Meyer, Emily Troxler (’11), and Katie Young — the daycare has created a safe, joyful space for the youngest members of the Miege and St. Agnes family.
For Assistant Athletic Director Nate Huppe, the daycare brings back a sense of history.
“The new daycare setup that the school has over at the Little House has been great for my family,” Huppe said. “That’s the exact house that my three brothers and I all went to when we were very young kids back in the ’80s, and to have it back now where I could send my two daughters has been a blessing.”
Families often refer to the building as the “Little House,” a nod to its history as St. Agnes’ original daycare and kindergarten building. Its rebirth has been both practical and deeply personal for those who walk through its doors.
“It’s so convenient to have my kids so close to me while I’m at work,” Huppe said. “Stephanie Holmes and the other ladies working there care so much about all of the kids, and that just gives great comfort to my wife and I.”
A Life-Changing Blessing for Families
For Social Studies and English teacher Maggie Verschelden, the program has been nothing short of life-changing.
“It is hard to put into words what the daycare means to us,” Verschelden said. “It is an unbelievable blessing that such an affordable opportunity for daycare is also the BEST opportunity for daycare in Kansas City. Steph, Katie, Amy, and Emily truly love what they do, and the love they have for our daughter, Eileen, and all of the kids is so obvious and beautiful to witness.”
She’s seen her daughter thrive in the environment.
“Eileen has grown so much under their care, and she has made the best of friends too,” Verschelden said. “She is so excited to see her little buddies every day. Even though we tried to get them together when we could during the summertime, we are beyond happy to be back where she gets to learn and play all day long.”
Staff Who Make the Difference
English Department Chair Dan Fournier credits the staff for making the experience exceptional.
“There’s something pretty incredible about the Lil’ Stags/Lil’ Rams Daycare,” Fournier said. “It means a great deal to my wife and I to know we have a place such as this one to send our daughter. The staff is kind, consistent, loving, enthusiastic, high-energy, thoughtful, and selfless, and the care they give to all of the children they come in contact with is nothing short of amazing. We see it as a great privilege to send our daughter there.”
As the daycare embarks on its second full year, its growth is evident — not just in the new classrooms, but in the confidence and joy it has given to families.
More Than a Daycare: A Ministry of Care
For Bishop Miege and St. Agnes, the Little Stags and Rams Daycare is more than a program. It is a testament to the schools’ commitment to caring for those who dedicate their lives to Catholic education.
Beyond the joy her daughter experiences, Verschelden emphasized the convenience and peace of mind the daycare provides.
“We get the convenience of having her right up the street from Miege, the affordability, and the best care. It really does not seem possible that this daycare opened when it did, and we are thankful every single day.”
Gratitude for a Home Away from Home
It is hard to put into words what the daycare means to us. It is an unbelievable blessing that such an affordable opportunity for daycare is also the BEST opportunity for daycare in Kansas City.
The staff is kind, consistent, loving, enthusiastic, high-energy, thoughtful, and selfless, and the care they give to all of the children they come in contact with is nothing short of amazing. We see it as a great privilege to send our daughter there.
That’s the exact house that my three brothers and I all went to when we were very young kids back in the ’80s, and to have it back now where I could send my two daughters has been a blessing.
Knowing our daughter is surrounded by people who love her like family is a gift we don’t take for granted. We feel incredibly grateful that the daycare started last year and continues to grow. Watching the kids become friends with each other is the best part.