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HappyFeet Soccer Partners with St. Joseph’s EEC
SHAWNEE, KS — HappyFeet Kansas City is proud to announce an official partnership with St. Joseph’s EEC to provide exclusive on-site soccer enrichment for enrolled families at the 11525 Johnson Dr campus. The program brings professional youth soccer instruction directly to the school during school hours — eliminating extra driving for busy families throughout Shawnee, Merriam, Lenexa, Merriam, and surrounding communities.
Partnership Highlights
The HappyFeet and St. Joseph’s EEC partnership gives enrolled families access to professional on-site soccer at no extra logistical cost — classes happen during school hours, a ball is provided, and the program costs $50/month.
What This Means for St. Joseph’s EEC Families
- Exclusive access — On-site soccer is only for enrolled St. Joseph’s EEC students
- Zero extra driving — Classes happen during school hours on the Johnson Dr campus
- Same pickup time — Your daily routine doesn’t change at all
- Familiar environment — Children learn soccer with classmates they already know
- Everything included — Ball provided and professional instruction for $50/month
- Ages 2-6 — Age-appropriate curriculum at every developmental stage
- Pathway to more — Direct connection to KC Legends Soccer Club (ages 6-18)
Character Development On and Off the Field
St. Joseph’s EEC builds character through faith, community, and structured learning. HappyFeet soccer complements this by teaching teamwork, perseverance, and sportsmanship in a supportive group setting. Our coaches emphasize encouragement over competition — every child gets equal attention, every child succeeds. For families at St. Joseph’s EEC, on-site soccer means their children develop physically and socially in the same values-driven environment they experience in the classroom.
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Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Meets HappyFeet: A Natural Fit
St. Joseph’s EEC’s Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and HappyFeet’s play-based soccer model are philosophically aligned — both are grounded in research showing that children develop best through purposeful play, active engagement, and joyful exploration.
The partnership brings together two organizations whose educational philosophies were built from the same foundational insight: that children learn best when they’re engaged, active, and having fun.
St. Joseph’s EEC’s Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a nationally recognized, research-based approach. It balances structured academic development with purposeful play — nurturing intellectual, social, emotional, and physical growth simultaneously. The result: enrolled students consistently show strong kindergarten readiness outcomes.
HappyFeet’s play-based soccer curriculum applies the same principle to physical development. Instead of drills and lines, HappyFeet coaches use storytelling, imagination, and creative games to keep children moving, touching the ball, and building genuine skills. Children get approximately 150 ball touches per session — far above industry averages — in an environment that feels like play rather than practice.
Where the Two Philosophies Align
Purposeful Play
Both the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and HappyFeet treat play as the primary vehicle for learning — not a break from it.
Whole-Child Development
Both programs develop social, emotional, and physical skills simultaneously alongside academic and motor foundations.
Research-Backed Methods
St. Joseph’s EEC’s Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and HappyFeet’s curriculum are both grounded in child development research, not tradition alone.
Confidence Through Competence
Both programs build real skills — academic readiness or ball skills — that give children genuine confidence, not just participation trophies.
“We know that busy parents in Shawnee and Merriam don’t need another place to drive. By bringing HappyFeet directly to St. Joseph’s EEC, we’re giving families professional soccer instruction without adding anything to their schedules. That’s what a real partnership looks like — more value, not more logistics.”
Two organizations, one shared philosophy — purposeful play.
Program Details
HappyFeet at St. Joseph’s EEC runs weekly sessions during school hours at the Johnson Dr campus, serving enrolled children ages 2-6 for $50 per month all-inclusive.
Location
11525 Johnson Dr
Shawnee, KS 66203
Ages Served
2–6 years old
Schedule
Weekly during school hours
Monthly Investment
$50 (all-inclusive)
What’s Included
Soccer ball provided, professional instruction
Pathway
KC Legends Soccer Club (age 6+)
What Shawnee Families Are Saying
Enrolled families at St. Joseph’s EEC consistently describe the on-site soccer as one of the most meaningful quality-of-life improvements in their week — not just for their children’s development, but for family schedule sanity.
About St. Joseph’s EEC
St. Joseph’s EEC has served the Shawnee area families since opening. Located at 11525 Johnson Dr in Shawnee, KS 66203, the school is owned and operated by local ownership and is open Monday through Friday.
St. Joseph’s EEC offers programs for Infants, Toddlers, Preschool, Pre-K, Kindergarten, and After School care — all built on the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a research-based approach that blends purposeful play with structured academic preparation.Learn more at eec.stjoeshawnee.org/eec or call (913) 631-0004.
About HappyFeet Kansas City
Since 2003, HappyFeet has introduced thousands of Kansas City toddlers to soccer through imaginative, play-based learning. The program’s unique curriculum uses storytelling and creative games to develop coordination, confidence, and a genuine love for physical activity in children ages 2-6. Children receive approximately 150 ball touches per 40-minute session — one of the highest in the industry.
HappyFeet is the official feeder program for KC Legends Soccer Club, providing a seamless pathway from first touches (ages 2-6) to competitive youth soccer (ages 6-18). HappyFeet partners with quality childcare centers across the Kansas City metro to bring soccer directly to families. Learn more at happyfeetkc.com.
Interested in Learning More?
Discover why Shawnee families choose St. Joseph’s EEC for education and HappyFeet for soccer development.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the HappyFeet and St. Joseph’s EEC partnership from families in Shawnee, Merriam, and the Shawnee area.