Our Story

Forty Years of Growing Together

Some stories begin with a building. Others begin with a love of children. The story of Woodbridge Children’s School begins with both—and with a congregation that believed it could make a difference in the lives of families in its community.

In 1986, Irvine United Congregational Church (IUCC) opened the IUCC Early Childhood Center, creating a place where children could learn, explore, make friends, and grow in a loving and consistent environment.

A Gift That Found Its Home

Alice Atwood, a retired teacher, believed in the promise of a new church and its potential to make a difference in the community. She understood that a church could be more than a place to gather on Sunday mornings; it could be a place that responded to the needs of its neighbors and built meaningful relationships with families.

To help make that vision possible, Alice donated a 3,800-square-foot former bank building to IUCC. The building was moved to the church campus, where it was named the Atwood building in her honor and given a new purpose: becoming home to the church’s early childhood center.

Alice’s generosity helped create a lasting connection between the church and the families of Irvine. Forty years later, her vision continues in a place where children learn, families find community, and the church lives out its commitment to its neighbors.

A Warm Welcome for Every Child

When the center opened, longtime IUCC member Ruby Fulton became its first director. With 17 years of childcare experience, Ruby brought both professional knowledge and a deep, personal love for children.

Ruby greeted every child with a warm smile and often a loving embrace. That simple, generous welcome helped establish the spirit of the school from its very beginning. Children were not simply arriving for another day of care. They were being welcomed into a place where they were known, cherished, and encouraged to grow.

Ruby helped establish a culture of warmth and care that would shape the school for decades to come. The directors who followed her inherited more than a program; they inherited a way of welcoming children that began with Ruby.

Today, the Ruby Fulton Scholarship continues that legacy, helping ensure that children have the opportunity to attend the school. It is a fitting tribute to a woman whose love for children helped shape the heart of the school.

A Ministry of Care and Learning

Over the years, IUCC members, the school’s Child Care Committee, educators, and volunteers have supported the school’s programs, cared for its facilities, and helped it grow. In 2025, the IUCC Early Childhood Center became Woodbridge Children’s School, a new name for a school whose roots remain firmly planted in its history and its relationship with the church.

IUCC’s ministry through Woodbridge Children’s School is intentional: to provide affordable, quality childcare and early childhood education for families in the community. The school does not have a religious curriculum, because its purpose is not to proselytize, but to offer children a nurturing environment where they can learn, explore, develop friendships, and grow. For IUCC, caring for children and supporting families is itself a meaningful expression of faith.

As Woodbridge Children’s School celebrates 40 years, we honor Alice Atwood’s generosity, Ruby Fulton’s enduring legacy, the dedication of generations of educators and volunteers, and the many children and families who have been part of this story.

The building Alice helped bring home continues to serve its purpose. The spirit of welcome Ruby nurtured continues to inspire. And IUCC remains grateful to be part of a story that has helped children grow and families flourish for four decades.

Here’s to 40 years of learning, belonging, and growing together—and to all the chapters still to come.