Columbus Our Lady of Bethlehem School and Childcare (OLB) is partnering with Columbus Bishop Watterson High School to open a satellite campus for young children of teachers and staff who work at Watterson and its feeder schools.
Bethlehem Beginnings, the satellite campus, will be located at the high school and open its doors during the 2026-27 school year. It will serve children ages six weeks through two-and-a-half years.
“By offering excellent care for the children of our educators, we send a clear message that Catholic schools are strengthened when the families of our teachers are strengthened. By supporting the families of our educators, we hope to create the conditions in which they can continue to serve joyfully and generously in the mission of the Church,” said Dr. Adam Dufault, superintendent of the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools.
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OLB’s principal, Lori Dulin, said the idea for Bethlehem Beginnings came from a desire to help meet teachers’ vital need for childcare.
“This is something that we’re doing to keep and recruit highly qualified teachers and staff in our Catholic schools,” Dulin said. “We (thought), ‘Why can’t we provide this as a benefit to our teachers and staff just like we would anything else?’
“The childcare system in our country is struggling, practically broken. We know how to do this and do it well.”
The cost for childcare at Bethlehem Beginnings will be offered at a preferred rate, significantly lower than the typical cost of childcare at other establishments.
OLB is the only school in the diocese that offers infant and toddler care. Currently, many families are on a waiting list for a spot in a classroom, including families with a parent working in the diocese’s Catholic schools or other ministries.
“So many families can’t get in,” Dulin said. Bethlehem Beginnings was created to serve such families.
Childcare will be available to staff at Watterson’s feeder schools, which include Columbus Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Peace, St. Agatha, St. Andrew, St. Timothy, Hilliard St. Brendan the Navigator, Dublin St. Brigid of Kildare, Delaware St. Mary, Worthington St. Michael the Archangel and the new Columbus Ave Maria Academy, which will open in August at Columbus-Powell St. Peter St. Joan of Arc parish.
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“This not only serves the families of these infants and toddlers, but it fosters the feeder system in our diocese and supports continued growth and sustainability,” Dulin added.
Space in the Watterson building’s lower level will be the site of Bethlehem Beginnings. It is set to be renovated by Brackett Builders, a company that was involved in significant design and renovation projects at the high school, including its chapel, main entrance and various athletic spaces.
Ryan Schwieterman, Watterson’s vice principal of operations, said the space can currently accommodate about 12 children but could evolve.
Additional information on Bethlehem Beginnings’ opening will be announced in the coming weeks.
