Philosophy
The center is built on the understanding that all aspects of the child’s growth and development are equally important and that children grow and develop at different rates and stages. With play as the core of the curriculum, experiences emphasize learning as an active process. Thematic curriculum helps young children achieve higher levels of learning. Children learn by active engagement with their environment and through social engagement with other human beings. Teachers prepare the environment for children to construct knowledge through active exploration and interaction with other children, adults and developmentally appropriate materials. Learning experiences and materials are real, concrete and relevant to the lives of young children.
Parents Are Welcome at the CDC at All Times
Parent involvement enriches children’s experiences and strengthens the program. We invite and encourage you to actively participate in the program. Participation may take many forms; reading or telling stories, sharing of special interests, participating on field trips and making items for the center. You are also welcome to simply observe from the observation booth. Each year, a center family social event is planned and all families are encouraged to attend. In addition, each classroom may plan events throughout the year that parents are also invited to attend.
Family Advisory Committee (F.A.C.), a representative group of parents, the center director, and child development faculty and staff meets monthly. Please view the CDC’s calendar/handbook for upcoming meetings during the academic year. The P.A.C. discusses issues relevant to the operation of the center and teacher training of students.
Accreditation
NAEYC
Your child’s program meets NAEYC’s 10 standards of excellence in early childhood education. Programs that meet these standards provide a safe and healthy environment for children, have teachers who are well-trained, have access to excellent teaching materials, and work with a curriculum that is appropriately challenging and developmentally sound. These programs are continuously working together with families and the community to improve themselves and to provide the best possible educational opportunities for children.
Quality Rated
Quality Rated gives families greater confidence in their child care choice because independent, credentialed experts in early childhood have assessed that the program is following best practices. Employing qualified well trained teachers, implementing individualized instruction, focusing on active learning and social emotional development and providing low student teacher ratio are all part of the Quality Rated system. Our center has the highest rating of 3 stars.
- NAEYC-accredited programs meet a higher standard.
- Implement strong personnel, fiscal and program management policies so that all children, families and staff have high-quality experiences.
- Promote positive relationships for all children and adults to encourage each child’s sense of individual worth.
- Implement a curriculum that fosters all areas of child development: cognitive, emotional, language, physical and social.
- Use developmentally, culturally and linguistically appropriate effective teaching approaches.
- Provide ongoing assessments of a child’s learning and development and communicate the child’s progress to the family.
- Promote the nutrition and health of children and protect children and staff from injury and illness.
- Employ a teaching staff that has the educational qualifications, knowledge and professional commitment necessary to promote children’s learning and development, and to support families’ diverse needs and interests.
- Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with each child’s family.
- Establish relationships with and use the resources of the community to support the achievement of program goals.
- Provide a safe and healthy physical environment.