PHILOSOPHY
The Hoya Kids Learning Center is dedicated to providing a sound early childhood program for children ages 1 ½ to 5 years of age that meets their social, emotional, physical and intellectual needs in a safe, homelike and loving environment. The unique characteristics of each individual child are valued at our Center. Each child's interests and developmental stages are nurtured by our well-trained and talented team of early childhood professionals. At Hoya Kids Learning Center, we enjoy and appreciate children - their diversity, their challenges, their successes. Our Center is a place where all children are respected and loved.
We believe childhood should be a time of great joy, love and exploration. Based on our teachers' knowledge and the particular needs of what is meaningful for each child, curriculum emerges from the combination of teacher direction and children's interest. Our early childhood professionals plan and prepare a program that is developmentally appropriate and maintains a professional commitment to the National Association for the Education of Young Children's accreditation criteria. In a developmentally appropriate program, hands-on experiences and age-appropriate play, activities and materials provide the foundation for learning and early literacy. Unlike formal instruction that focuses exclusively on academic skills, our play-oriented activities offer choices to children in a learning environment that supports and fosters their freedom of expression, growing independence, and positive self-esteem.
Our childcare philosophy is based on flexibility and choice for children. The Center respects and accommodates the individual developmental levels of the child; we do not expect children to mold themselves to fit a prescribed plan of development. Discipline is approached in a positive manner with the goal of helping children learn self-control and problem-solving strategies.
Excellent communication is a top priority at Hoya Kids Learning Center. With daily communication through conversation and written notes, the staff and parents form a team to help each child?s day run smoothly. In addition to regular communication with parents, our Center produces a monthly newsletter. Parent get-togethers and workshops are also sponsored by the Parent Advisory Council and the Center. Parents are encouraged to volunteer in the classrooms and are always welcome at Hoya Kids Learning Center.
The Hoya Kids Learning Center admits children and employs personnel without regard to race, color, creed, gender, religion, or national origin.
*Please note that his and her are used interchangeably throughout the handbook to reinforce our nonsexist philosophy.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Hoya Kids Learning Center is established to meet the needs of the children of University faculty, staff, and students, and to help Georgetown University parents better balance work and family responsibilities. The Learning Center is a key component of the University's commitment to weave family needs into the fabric of the University community and its educational mission.
Through access to excellent child care, the University will integrate its educational and scholarly missions, as well as the program and activities of the Center, as appropriate. The Center will provide an atmosphere in which children can thrive as part of the Georgetown family.
The Center will provide the highest quality child care possible and ensure an optimal environment for each child.
PROGRAM GOALS
The goal of the Hoya Kids Learning Center is to provide a high quality, developmentally appropriate early childhood program and high quality care for all children enrolled in our Center. Therefore, we shall endeavor:
- To provide a healthy, safe, nurturing environment;
- To provide an environment which encourages emotional, social, physical, and intellectual development;
- To encourage the development of a positive self image for each child;
- To provide learning experiences through discovery, exploration, and hands-on activities;
- To make learning fun so that children will develop a love of books and a desire to be lifelong learners;
- To encourage language development, creativity, and an appreciation of fine arts;
- To provide opportunities so children can appreciate the beauty and nature of the world in which they live, and can learn how to practice wise conservation of natural resources;
- To encourage children in learning how to interact successfully with other children and adults, and how to live together in a cooperative environment which promotes decision-making, peaceful resolution of conflicts, and respect for and care of others;
- To form a cooperative partnership with parents so that we can work together to meet the needs of each child.
We believe that each child is a special and unique individual. Our Center has areas designed to meet the specific requirements of a variety of different developmental age levels. Our Center is staffed by trained, educated teachers and care givers who love and respect children and provide the best environment and activities to meet our goals.
CENTER PROGRAMS
Toddlers and two-year-olds are active, eager learners. The program meets the changing needs of individual children by providing a safe and appropriate environment that is both challenging and stimulating. As the children develop independence and feelings of autonomy, the staff provides opportunities for exploration, the development of gross and fine motor skills, of self-help skills, and of language skills. The children can enjoy both indoor and outdoor activities as they choose from a wide variety of toys and equipment.
During the preschool years (ages three and a half to five), children are involved in active learning through discovery and hands-on activities which will encourage language development, pre-math skills, creativity, and the development of positive self-esteem. Each child is encouraged to make appropriate choices and reach his or her highest potential within an appropriate, nurturing environment.
CENTER INFORMATION AND ORGANIZATION
Hoya Kids Learning Center is licensed by the District of Columbia and follows standards set by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. A copy of state licensing regulations is filed in the HKLC Director's office and may be seen upon request.
Center History
In summer 1991, Georgetown University's Task Force on the Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement of Women issued the report of its Commission on the Status of Women at the University. In this report, the Task Force recommended that: "The University should move forward expeditiously in the creation of a child care facility ..." and recommended that this facility be "convenient to the Main Campus and managed in such a way as to offer care that is affordable in light of the differential scales of university salaries."
In making this recommendation, the Task Force cited the positive impact the child care center would have on the University's ability to compete for faculty and other personnel; the center's importance as a means of ensuring equitable working conditions for women and men; and the documented, measurable increase in morale, productivity, and longevity in workplaces that provide child care. The Task Force also emphasized that the child care center would be more than a sound business practice; it would be a means of fulfilling the unique responsibility a Catholic and Jesuit institution to promote a strong family with an appropriate balance between work life and home life.
The recommendation to create a child care facility was the culmination of numerous surveys, discussions, and proposals conducted by a range of experts over several years. Recognizing the persuasive, sound, and consistent consensus of the University community on the need for a child care center, and understanding the many ways in which such a center would enhance campus life, Georgetown University president, Leo J. O'Donovan, S.J., made the creation of the child care center a priority.
Fr. O'Donovan identified Poulton Hall as the location for the facility, appropriated resources to launch the center, stipulated that the center serve the entire University community, and appointed a committee to administer the center's creation. The Child Care Center Committee first met in January 1996 and within 18 months oversaw appropriate renovations to Poulton Hall; hired a director for the center; developed a philosophy, mission statement and program; and enrolled the first Hoya Kids Learning Center class. Hoya Kids opened in the fall of 1997, with the capacity to provide the highest quality of care and learning to 58 children, ages 18 months to 5 years.
CENTER STRUCTURE
Center Staff
Our Center is staffed by an outstanding group of dedicated teachers and professional care givers. They are educated and trained in early childhood education and can provide the environment and activities appropriate for our children.
Our staff believes that a cooperative relationship is essential between the Center and parents so that a quality program can be provided for all children. Staff will keep parents informed about their child's daily activities and developmental achievements.
All teachers at HKLC must have an enthusiasm for teaching young children, a basic foundation in child development, an appreciation for each child's individuality, and an ability to stimulate a child's natural creativity and curiosity. They must also be sensitive to each child's needs and responsively involved with children. Their understanding of the needs of working parents and their ability to collaborate for the benefit of the children is an essential part of their unique qualifications. We expect all staff members to perform all aspects of their job as completely and professionally as possible regardless of their race, color, creed, gender, religion and natural origin. All employees share equal duties, regardless of gender.
Our staff receives ongoing in-service training and attends available workshops, courses, and consultations.
PAC
The Hoya Kids Learning Center Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is an advisory board comprised of parent volunteer representatives from each of the three age groups at Hoya Kids Learning Center. The mission of the PAC is to support and enhance the care and education of the children who attend HKLC. Additionally, PAC will provide input from parents on proposed policy changes that affect families. This is accomplished by the following activities:
- Facilitating communication between parents and HKLC staff, especially the director;
- Creating and supporting enrichment activities through fund-raising, networking within the University community, and through various volunteer efforts, including chaperoning on field trips and other HKLC outings;
- Providing support for HKLC parents through seminars, coffee hours, and other activities;
- Assisting in organizing major social and celebratory events for HKLC community (e.g., international pot luck dinner, end-of-year picnic);
- Organizing community service activities; and
- Providing general classroom and staff support of HKLC as needed or requested by the director.
PAC representatives serve a one-year term that coincides with the academic year. If you are interested in serving on the PAC, see the director for more information.
STAFF-CHILD RATIOS
Our Center follows guidelines established by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The ratio between staff and children and the group size does not exceed the following NAEYC guidelines:
18 months to 2½ years - 1:4 with a group of 8 or less
2½ years to 3½ years - 1:6 with a group of 12 or less
3½ years to 5 years - 1:10 with a group of 20 or less
*Minimum ratios are adjusted for field trips to ensure extra supervision. See the section on Field Trips for specifics.
