PURPOSE
The center strives to create a caring community of learners using a curriculum that helps to enhance a child's development. Throughout the day, various activities are presented to promote physical, intellectual, emotional and social development. It is our belief that mutually beneficial relationships with parents are in the best interest of the children.
PROGRAM INFORMATION
The First Presbyterian Church Child Day Care Center is open year round
Monday through Friday from 6:30 am to 5:30 pm. The center is closed for the
following holidays: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, July 4th,
Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
The center is licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of
Public Welfare and is approved by the Department of Labor and Industry. The
center undergoes regular inspections by these agencies.
The First Presbyterian Church Child Day Care Center is proud to be a
Keystone STARS facility. Through this program, the center is committed to a
high standard of care and promoting a quality child care environment that
contributes to increased social and emotional development, learning skills,
and school readiness.
Infant Care
The First Presbyterian Church Child Day Care Center is Warren's only premier
infant center. We are proud to be able to accept infants as young as six
weeks. Our infant program is attentive to each individual child's rate of
development. A wide range of experiences and materials are provided
throughout the infant's day to encourage all areas of growth and
development.
Our teachers recognize that the most important curriculum of the infant's
day is the relationship between the child and the caregiver. We understand
that it is essential for a quality infant program to have a nurturing,
consistent, and loving staff that helps infants develop a sense of trust and
provide for their basic needs in a safe, secure and trusting environment.
Infant needs are met quickly, positively, and according to their own
individual schedule. Throughout the day, many varied opportunities are
presented to invite play, discovery, and exploration. Continuous and
meaningful language experiences are offered through singing, reading, and
talking daily.
The infant room at the First Presbyterian Child Day Care Center is bright,
busy and cheerful but not cluttered. Music is usually playing in the
background. A comfortable rocking chair is available for rocking the
infants. The open play area is full of books, musical toys and age
appropriate toys such as shape sorters and push-and-pull toys. The basic
sounds of the room are pleasant and comfortable as the teacher interacts
with the infants.
Toddlers
The First Presbyterian Child Day Care Center offers two classrooms of one
year old children. We also offer two classrooms for our two year olds.
While the rooms are bright and spacious, we are proud to offer our parents
the benefits of small class sizes. Our teachers are knowledgeable about
toddler development and take cues from each child about when and how to
teach new skills. You will find our teachers interacting regularly with
their children to take advantage of all opportunities to expand language as
well as to model positive social interactions.
Our toddler curriculum provides many opportunities for children to
experience their independence in an understanding and caring environment as
teachers encourage the children to learn to do things by themselves
(dressing, feeding, toileting, fixing puzzles, art activities and story
telling). Our staff also understands that this is an age of frustration as
toddlers struggle to master many skills throughout their day. Words of
encouragement by consistent and child-trusted staff are repeated often to
help children gain self confidence and manage frustrations.
Throughout the toddler's day at our center the opportunities of sensory
experiences, hands on activities, and exploration invite the children to
have many varied opportunities that promote play, discovery, and
socialization. The rooms are bustling with teachers who are on the floor
playing, talking, observing or holding children. The rooms offer large
colorful rugs, bean bags for story times and bright, age appropriate toys.
Throughout the week, activities consist of art projects, large motor skill
development in our gym, dancing, musical instruments, songs and finger
plays.
Pre-School
The First Presbyterian Child Day Care Center is proud of its' preschool
curriculum for three and four year olds. Two rooms, the Black Bears (4
yrs.) and Brown Bears (3 yrs.), are devoted to our preschool
children.Throughout our preschooler's day, learning is integrated throughout
the play environment by teachers who have general knowledge of preschool
development. Since our teachers understand the importance of a preschooler
to be truly engaged, the planned daily activities are based on the
children's own interests with a hands-on approach with their activities.
In our preschool rooms, our teachers understand that preschoolers need the
opportunity to develop problem solving skills whether it is turn taking with
peers, fixing puzzles or exploring with different materials. Our teachers
take advantage of teachable moments throughout the day to naturally build on
the children's interests and knowledge.
Our preschool rooms are noisy and active as the children interact with their
friends and teachers. Block centers, dramatic play, and a cozy reading area
are integrated in each classroom. Children can be found practicing math and
reading on the computer, singing, and reading stories to each other while
our teachers offer suggestions to enhance their learning process. Large
motor skills are developed in our gym with planned group activities designed
to encourage cooperative team work.
Science, math, language, and social experiences are some of the curriculum
built into the preschooler's day. Reading and writing are taught through a
print rich environment and meaningful experiences with books and language.
Many opportunities for choices and success are provided daily for each
child. Our teachers also understand that each child is an individual with
their own rate of development, interests, and personality.
ADMISSION & FEES
Admission, the provision of services, and referrals of clients shall be made
without regard to race, color, religious creed, disability, ancestry,
national origin, age or sex. Children are accepted for enrollment on a full
time (5 days a week) basis only. Class size and fees are determined by the
age of the child and are as follows:
The day care is a non-profit organization. All fees collected from parents
for day care services are used to cover center costs, including staff wages,
classroom equipment and supplies, and other day care needs and expenses. In
addition to fees the parents pay for services, the First Presbyterian Church
and its congregation also help to support the center in its financial needs.
MORE INFORMATION
We know there are many questions not answered in this brief description of
our program. Feel free to call our Day Care Center office at (814) 723-2149
to request a brochure or for answers to any specific questions. Missy Johnson is the Director of our center.
Questions? Drop us a line.
Return to First Presbyterian's home page