Announcing the 2008-2009 release of the WSU Children's Center Parent's Handbook. This document is provided in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.
Welcome to Washington State University Children's Center!
We are pleased that you have chosen us to assist you in providing childcare and early education for your child. We are licensed by the Washington State Department of Early Learning. We are currently in the process of seeking accreditation by the National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs (NAC).
Our main goal is to assist you in meeting your child-care needs by providing a healthy, safe, nurturing, and educational environment where children develop positive self-esteem, self-confidence and become excited about exploring their world.
We provide a variety of structured and unstructured activities which foster children's intellectual, social, physical and emotional development. Designed around a developmentally appropriate program, the curriculum emphasizes "learn-by-doing" activities.
The full time teachers are early childhood professionals who have had a wealth of experience in working with children in early childhood classrooms. The teachers provide a nurturing, secure environment that creates a positive, stimulating learning atmosphere. As facilitators of learning, the teachers set up the classrooms in ways that stimulate learning, exploring, creating, playing and working together in groups as well as individually. Our teachers are nurturers, patient listeners, questioners, organizers, facilitators, educators, singers and story-tellers. Our teachers are also a resource for parents and a link to understanding and planning for your child's school experience together.
Parents are encouraged to participate in our program or observe at any time while upholding our classroom policies and procedures. The observation rooms and lounge are available all day for your use.
If you are new to our program, we invite you and your child to come and visit a few times before you need to leave your child. We will be having an open house for everyone in September and we will also have an orientation meeting for new families. Please join us for both events.
If this is your child's first experience in a school-like setting, please let him/her know what to expect. On the first day you may wish to spend a short time with your child at the center. Please assure your child that you will return and tell him/her good-bye before you leave. Many children cry when parents leave the first few days, but our staff is prepared to give them special attention. Please let us know if you need help separating from your child. You may call us anytime during the day to ask about your child.
We acknowledge and appreciate that parents are a child's most important caregivers. Our job is to be your helper and to provide quality childcare when you are not available.
We hope our investment in quality childcare will enhance your child's positive intellectual, social, physical and emotional development. We genuinely care about your child and you.
My door is always open and I would be happy to talk with you about any concerns you may have. Please telephone me at 335-8087, 335-8847, come by and visit, or e-mail me at mradziemski@wsu.edu.
Please consider joining our Parent Advisory Board. We will be having parent orientation meetings for new families as well as an open house in September.
Sincerely,
Mary Ellen Radziemski, Director