An Update from The Children’s Center

Experts tell us that 90% of all brain development occurs by the age of five. If we don’t begin thinking about education in the early years, our children are at risk of falling behind by the time they start Kindergarten.”
– Robert. L. Ehrlich

Summer is upon us and The Children’s Center is gearing up for a fabulous Summer Camp experience. On June 17th, eighteen wonderful and well-prepared children graduated from our Pre-K program and are ready to begin Kindergarten in the Fall. Please visit our Facebook page to see their proud smiles of accomplishment!

Thank you to everyone who supported our First Annual Tot Trot on June 11th. The children had a great time walking through Jarvis Creek Park, experiencing the outdoors, engaging in physical activity, and proudly finishing under the colorful balloon arch to receive their metal. We are grateful to Culligan Water and Palmetto Pediatrics for their support! The $22,000 raised will be used directly in the classroom for program materials and consumables.  

Check out our Facebook page for great photos from the classroom and like us to see ongoing updates!

 

 

Children Thrive Because You Give

The Children’s Center operates from three funding sources:

1. Tuition paid by parents (everyone pays something)
2. Funds received from the State of South Carolina for qualified family tuition and our USDA food program
3. Generous community donations

Since our last update, we have received contributions from:

• David Carmines Foundation
• Evelyn & Arthur
• Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumni
• Palmetto Dunes Cares
• Palmetto Electric – Operation Round-Up
• PNC Foundation
• Ward Family Foundation

These are all important contributions to keep our tuition costs affordable and ensure the necessary support for early childhood education for children in our community beginning at 6 weeks of age and continuing through eight years.

 

The Community Called and We Answered

In Late 2020, The Children’s Center was approached by a local property management company to discuss the opportunity to expand our services to Saturday during the tourist season and allow their cleaning service personnel to have a safe place for their children to stay while parents are working. After much discussion and community support, The Children’s Center is honored to provide this essential service, allowing us to open our doors for all parents working in the tourism industry on our Island.

The Children’s Center’s Saturday School is a program for parents who work on Saturday to provide care and education for their children ranging from ages 3 to 8. This program opened in mid-May and will continue through Labor Day. Children can be dropped off between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Saturday morning and must be picked up no later than 4:45 p.m. that day. A daily schedule includes morning circle time, free play and outdoor play, planned activities such as art, music, and martial arts. Children receive a nutritious lunch and have an hour of quiet time. In the afternoon, children have a snack, more outdoor time, and classroom activities.

We are grateful to the many donors who have contributed directly to this vital program. Parents will pay a small tuition for their children’s participation, to ensure they too support this program. Based on need and resources, the program may continue past its scheduled end date. All funds donated for this program are restricted and carried into additional weeks in the future. Our goal is to serve up to 40 children each Saturday. Currently, we have 25 children enrolled.

The greatest impact of Saturday School is the safety of the children in our care – something that cannot be measured. These children will not sit in front of a TV for 10 hours while mom is cleaning multiple units in a timeshare. They will not fall off a balcony because their parents are taking out the trash and are unable to have eyes on them. They will not fall into a pool and drown because their parents are working on the other side of a villa cleaning a bathroom.

Instead, the children at Saturday School will enjoy their day, have nutritious foods and engage with friends while their parents work supporting the family!

 

Who’s Talking About The Children’s Center?

 

Do You Want to Make a Difference?

The Children’s Center is looking for amazing teachers with a passion for children. Do you know someone who wants to help make a difference? We are looking for full-time and part-time employees! E-mail resumes to info@thechildrenscenter.org.

#teachersrock #nonprofit #preschool #earlyeducation #earlychildhooddevelopment

Watch the video below to learn more about our teachers!