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 well being, parents need to visit and learn more before making their final decision. Keeping this in mind, the Y will host several Child Care Education Open Houses.

On Saturday, January 11th, the Y will host Preschool Open Houses from 10:00 am - Noon at the Robert & Virginia Bauer Family Branch, 422 East Broad Street and from 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm at the Cranford Community Center for Cranford Residents. Take a tour, meet the staff and more! Westfield Area Y Preschool 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. Snow date is January 18th.

Also on Saturday, January 11th, 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 10:00 am – Noon. Take a tour, meet the staff and more! The Y’s full-day Kindergarten program also offers half-day complements for children in outside programs. The program follows the public school calendar and expands upon incorporated public school curriculum and interactive experiences with math, literacy, science and social studies through both large and small group lessons. Specials may include gym, music, art, Spanish and/or a 30-minute swim lesson. Snow date is January 18th.

For those with school age childrenwithin Cranford and Garwood, an Open House for the Garwood Family Center Y is being held on Tuesday, January 14th at 500 East Street from 5:00 pm– 7:00 pm. School age complement is now available to Cranford elementary school students with busing to and from Brookside Place, Walnut Avenue, Hillside Avenue and Livingston Avenue schools. Learn about a special being offered to Cranford participants, take a tour, meet the staff and explore the classrooms, fields and playgrounds, fitness center and indoor activity room! Snow date is January 21st.

On Saturday, February 1st, 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 7:20 am to 6:00 pm for children ages 6 months to 5 years and is available three, four or five days a week. Aftercare is also available from 6:00 – 6:30 pm for an additional fee. Tours will be given and certified staff will be available to answer questions regarding the program and curriculum. Snow date is February 8th.

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 about Preschool and Kindergarten, contact Eileen Rooney at (908) 233-2700 x423 or email erooney@westfieldynj.org; the Garwood Family Center Y, contact Shannon McGillis at (908) 301-1616 or email smcgillis@westfieldynj.org; the Early Learning Center, contact Karen Theiss at (908) 654-8460 or e-mail ktheiss@westfieldynj.org.