Child
and Family
Development Center
What
is the CFDC? (top)
 The
primary purpose of the Child & Family
Development Center (CFDC) on the campus
of San Juan College (SJC) is to serve
as a laboratory school for early childhood,
nursing and psychology students at the
College. Practicum students in early
childhood education courses are part
of the Center staff each semester. They
are supervised by qualified teachers
to plan, implement and evaluate developmentally
appropriate activities for young children.
The
secondary purpose of the CFDC is to provide
child care and early education services
to students at SJC. The Center is accredited
by the National Association for the Education
of Young Children (NAEYC) and New Mexico
SBE. NAEYC accreditation recognizes programs
that comply with nationally recognized
criteria for high-quality early childhood
programs. The CFDC is licensed by the
State of New Mexico Children, Youth and
Families Department, and the Kindergarten
program is accredited by the State of
New Mexico Department of Education.
The
CFDC also provides slots for TANF families
in collaboration with PMS Head Start.
The CFDC currently house five
different programs for children 6 months of
age through kindergarten. Children are enrolled in the programs
for five days a week. Each of our programs is based on the assumption
that children learn best when they are actively involved with
their environment and free to explore without fear of mistakes.
The learning environment emphasizes social development and cooperation
with others as well as a variety of stimulating activities for
young children. We believe that children are inventive and creative
in the ways they understand the world, and that they grow and
develop by sharing ideas with others and by exploring questions
raised by caring adults. We arrange the environment to provide
structure and the schedule to provide consistency. These enable
a child to develop a sense of mastery over the environment.
Above all, we believe that each child is a unique person with
special things to offer. Our interactions with children reflect
these beliefs.
 Our
two full-day preschool programs are designed to meet
the needs of 20 children each, ages 3-5. A day's schedule
will include self-selected activities, large and small group
activities, learning centers, snacks, and outdoor time. Art,
music, movement, science, language, pre-math, pre-reading,
social studies, wood working and dramatic play are some of
the areas that children explore in the process of their physical,
mental, social and emotional growth. In addition, the special
needs of these children are met through the availability of
breakfast and hot lunch, and rest time.
A limited number
of half-day preschool spots are available in order
to provide additional flexibility for our familes enrolled.
Twelve positions
are available in each of our two full-day toddler classrooms.
Children attending this program are 18-36 months old. The
focus in these classrooms is on exploration, active play and
activities and routines that are individualized to meet children's
needs and interests. Eight positions are available in each
of our two full-day infant classrooms. Children attending
this program are 6-17 months old. The focus of these classrooms
is caregiver responsiveness, ensuring each child is cared
for and nutured in response to his or her expressed needs.
The
kindergarten program provides 10 children with instruction
that meets the requirements of the State of New Mexico. To
be eligible for kindergarten, children must be 5 years of
age before September 1 of each year. Our kindergarten program
focuses on providing hands-on activities based on the abilities
and interests of enrolled children. Activity centers enhance
the development of literacy, math, science, language and social
skills. Dramatic play, art, music, computer and physical activities
help to round out children's learning experiences.
Who
can attend the CFDC?(top)
Children
of full-time College students are given
priority for enrolling in the program.
For the purposes of the CFDC program,
a student must carry a minimum of twelve
(12) credit hours during the semester
for their child to be enrolled an the
Center. Children of College employees
will be admitted as space is available.
How
old does my child have to be to attend
the CFDC?(top)
The CFDC houses
five different programs for children 6 months of age through
kindergarten. Children must be 5 years of age before September
1 of each year to be eligible for the kindergarten program.
How
much does it cost?(top)
Tuition
contracts are written for a full semester's
attendance. The College provides some
child care assistance to students and
the Center coordinates with the State
of New Mexico and Navajo Nation for those
parents on child care assistance programs.
Rates are the same for all families.
The rates below are in effect until further
notice.
Full Day Preschool
Plus: 7:45 AM-5:15 PM; $80.00 per week; includes lunch
Full Day Preschool: 8:30 AM-3:30
PM; $80.00 per week; includes lunch
Half-Day Preschool: Morning
(8:30-11:30 AM) or Afternoon session
(12:30-3:30 PM); $40.00 per week
Lunch (11:30-12:30); when
connected to either the morning or
afternoon session, $10.00 week
Full Day Toddler Care: 7:45 AM-5:15 PM; $85.00 per
week; includes lunch
Full Day Kindergarten: 8:30 AM-3:30 PM; $225.00 per
month; includes lunch
AM Surround Care: 7:45-8:30
AM; $15.00 per week
PM Surround Care: 3:30-5:15 PM; $30.00 per week
How
many children are in each classroom?(top)
The
Full-Day Preschool room is licensed to
care for 20 children.
The
Half-Day Preschool room is licensed to
care for 20 children in each the morning
and afternoom programs.
The
Kindergarten room is licensed to care
for 15 children.
The Toddler rooms are
licensed to care for 12 children each. One room cares for
toddlers 18 months to 24 months and the other is for children
25 through 36 months.
The infant rooms
are licensed to care for 8 children each. One room cares for
infants 6 months to 12 months and the other is for infants
13 through 17 months.
Who
teaches the children?(top)
Each
classroom is staffed by a Lead Teacher
and at least one Associate Teacher. All
of the Lead Teachers have their BAs,
and the majority of the associates hold
Child Development Associate credentials.
To comply with requirements of the state
license, all members of the teaching
staff attend annual training.
Do
you offer drop-in care?(top)
The
Center does not provide drop-in hourly
or daily childcare or babysitting, but
quality educational programming and care
for young children. Children are enrolled
in the programs for five days a week.
Some emergency, flexible child care is
provided through referral by the SJC
Counseling Office.
Does
my child have to attend five days
a week?(top)
No.
The number of days a child attends is
up to the parent. However, the slot reserved
for a child must be paid for at the weeky
rate regardless of attendance. Parents
are encouraged to bring their child each
day to provide consistency and to allow
their child to take part in continuing
classroom activities.
When
is the Center open? (top)
The
CFDC operates on a 9-month academic calendar
following the College's Fall and Spring
semester schedules, and is closed on
all academic holidays and breaks (e.g.
Spring Break, Christmas vacation). The
CFDC is not open
during the summer.
Does
my child have to be potty trained?(top)
Children attending
the infant and toddler programs are not required to be potty
trained. Children my enter the preshool programs if they have
begun potty-training and are wearing pulls. The preschool
classrooms are not equipped to change diapers.
How
do I enroll my child?(top)
Preliminary application
forms to put a child's name on the waiting list are available
at the CFDC office on campus (building directly east of the
Computer Science building).
Based on the date
on the form, families will be called as openings occur. Families
are encouraged to complete a preliminary form as far in advance
as possible as the waiting time for enrollment opportunities
has historically been at least one year. Children remain on
the waiting list for two semesters. Parents must complete
a new preliminary application to remain on the active waiting
list.
For more information on any of these programs, call
566-3383, or contact
Lyn
Garrison
Child and Family Development Center
San Juan College
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