Mission & 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.

PHILOSOPHY

The Hoya Kids Learning Center is dedicated to providing a sound early childhood program for children ages 1 ½ through 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.