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FormsParents' Assoc.FAQ | Where is Salford Mennonite Child Care Centers located?
The original site is located at Salford Mennonite Church at 480 Groff’s Mill Road in Harleysville, Pennsylvania. It is near the crossroads of Routes 113 and 63. The Children’s Center at Dock Woods, the second center, is located in the Dock Woods Retirement Community in Towamencin Township, near Lansdale, Pennsylvania.
What hours are you open?
SMCCC is open Monday to Friday, 6:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Parents contract for either an 8.5-hour day or 9-hour day within that time span. Teachers’ schedules are prepared by the children’s arrival and departure times in order to keep correct teacher-child ratios at all times.
What are teacher-child ratios in the classroom?
Infant and one-year-old classrooms are staffed with one teacher to three children. Two-year-olds are grouped with one teacher to five children. Preschool classrooms include groups of 7-9 children to one teacher.
How do I enroll?
Parents complete an application form and submit it to the Director at either site. There is a $35 non refundable application fee. Children are enrolled in the order of the application date as openings occur.
Do I have to be Mennonite to enroll?
No. All children are welcome without regard to race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability or ancestry. When the parent of a child with special needs applies for admissions to the program, the director and the parent will meet to review the child’s care requirements.
Do you teach Bible stories?
SMCCC is a Christian educational program. Children learn to offer a prayer of thanks before eating. Bible stories are incorporated into classroom curriculum and our goal is to create an environment of peace and love. The children know that Jesus loves them and that we love them, too. Our motto is Matthew 19:14; “Let the little children come to me. .. for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
How do I learn about my child’s day?
SMCCC considers ourselves to be partners with parents in the nurture and development of their children. Communication between the center and families is an integral part of the relationship that provides for high quality child care. Each classroom has a communication board where teachers post the activities of the day and any incidental information. Children also have a folder/mailbox in their classroom for communication between the home and the center. Children also use this as a place for their artwork they would like to take home with them.
Can I talk to my child’s teacher at the end of the day?
Teachers’ schedules are planned by the arrival and departure of the children in order to maintain correct ratios throughout the day. Your child’s teacher will likely be present either in the morning when you arrive or in the afternoon when return for your child. Teachers are also available by e-mail. Short conversations at the beginning or end of the day are appropriate. If an extended conversation is needed, it is best to arrange an appointment.
How do you discipline children?
Teachers use only positive guidance, redirection, and they set clear boundaries for classroom behavior. Talking individually with the child, teachers will confirm boundaries and help the child understand what was violated. For aggressive or other inappropriate behavior, children will be removed from the group only long enough to gain self-control. As in other areas, we partner with parents and value communication with them concerning ongoing behaviors.
What can you tell me about SMCCC Parents’ Association?
The SMCCC Parents Association seeks to assist SMCCC—with time, treasure, and talent—so that it can continue to be a high quality, accredited center of excellence. One major goal is to help make SMCCC an attractive employer for talented early childhood professionals. Another major objective is to gain legislative support and funding for quality child care.
One of the major initiatives is the Teachers' Bonus Fund. Funded by parent contributions and augmented by profits from fundraisers. The bonus fund is a very tangible way of letting SMCCC staff know that they are valued and appreciated. To help meet the goal of being active advocates for child care issues, the Parents Association has formed a “Lobby the Legislators” e-mail chain—a list of parents and friends willing to contact their legislators.
How did the SMCCC Parents’ Association begin?
As SMCCC faced the same challenges that many centers do in recruiting and retaining qualified teachers, more than 40 families joined together in July of 2001 to form the SMCCC Parents Association, helping to make SMCCC an attractive employer is foremost in many members' minds.
What is NAEYC?
Both the church center and The Children’s Center at Dock Woods are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. SMCCC was evaluated under a new system which included an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against the ten new NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards and more than 400 related Accreditation Criteria. The program received NAEYC Accreditation after an on-site visit by NAEYC Assessors to ensure that the program meets each of the ten NAEYC program standards. The new standards reflect the latest research and best practices in early childhood education and development. The church center has been accredited since 1998.
Where can I learn more about NAEYC?
There is much information on their website at www.naeyc.org.
What is Keystone STARS?
Keystone STARS is an initiative of the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) to improve, support, and recognize the continuous quality improvement efforts of early learning programs in Pennsylvania.
The Keystone STARS Performance Standards provide the foundation for the program. The Performance Standards are grouped into four levels: STAR 1, STAR 2, STAR 3, and STAR 4. Each level builds on the previous level and utilizes research-based best practices to promote quality early learning environments and positive child outcomes. The standards address staff qualifications and professional development, the early learning program, partnerships with family and community, and leadership and management.
What does STARS stand for?
Standards, Training, Assistance, Resource, Support
Where can I learn more about STARS?
There is a website designed especially for parents to learn more about STARS.
www.dpw.state.pa.us/ServicesPrograms/ChildCareEarlyEd/003674743.htm
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