LIFE LESSONS BEGIN HERE...VISIT WESTFIELD AREA Y'S CHILD CARE OPEN HOUSES

The Westfield Area Y understands that when it comes to your child’s care, parents need to visit and learn more before making their final decision. Keeping this in mind, the Y will be hosting several Child Care Education Open Houses. At each location, take a tour, meet the staff and more.

Westfield Area Y Child Care programs incorporate “The Creative Curriculum for Early Childhood” into their daily lesson plans. The most important goal is to help the children become enthusiastic learners and encourage them to be active and creative explorers who are not afraid to try out their ideas and to think their own thoughts. Creative Curriculum content areas include: Literacy, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Arts, Technology, Healthy Habits and Character Development.

The Y’s full-day Kindergarten program follows the public school calendar and expands upon the incorporated public school curriculum with interactive math, literacy, science and social studies experiences. Specials may include gym, music, art, Spanish and/or a 30-minute swim lesson (varies by location). Half-day complements are available for children in outside programs.

On Saturday, January 24th, the Y will host a Preschool Open House from 10:00am - Noon at the Robert & Virginia Bauer Family Branch, 422 East Broad Street and from Noon–1:00pm at the Cranford Community Center for Cranford Residents. The program is available 8:30-11:00am or 12:30-2:30pm, 2, 3, 4 or 5 days per week. Snow date is February 1st.

Also on Saturday, January 24th, Westfield Area Y Full Day Kindergarten Open Houses will take place at the Main Y Facility, 220 Clark Street in Westfield and at the Robert & Virginia Bauer Branch, 422 East Broad Street from 10:00am–Noon. Kindergarten Wraparound will also be featured at the Main Y. Snow date is February 1st.

An Open House for the Garwood Family Center Y for Full and Half-day early learning programs is being held on Saturday, January 31st at 500 East Street from 10:00am – Noon. Explore the classrooms, field, playgrounds, fitness center and indoor activity room. Snow date is February 1st.

On Saturday, February 7th, an Open House will be held at the Westfield Area Y’s Early Learning Center, 170 Elm Street (behind the First Baptist Church) from 9:30 am – Noon. The Y’s Early Learning Center is for parents who are in need of a year-round program from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm for children ages 6 months to 4 years and is available 2, 3, 4 or 5 days a week. Extended care is also available from 6:00–6:30 pm for an additional fee. Snow date is February 8th from 1:00-3:00 pm.

The Westfield Area Y’s child care education programs at the Early Learning Center and the Bauer Branch are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). This accreditation means that the Westfield Area Y has voluntarily undergone a process of internal self-study and has sought external professional review.

Financial assistance is available for those who qualify. For more information, visit www.westfieldynj.org or contact Eileen Rooney about Preschool and Kindergarten at (908) 233-2700 x423; erooney@westfieldynj.org; Shannon McGillis about the Garwood Family Center Y at (908) 301-1616; smcgillis@westfieldynj.org; or Karen Theiss about the Early Learning Center at (908) 654-8460; ktheiss@westfieldynj.org.