Summary

Contact Info

Children's Center at CalTech
286 S. Chester
Pasadena , CA 91106
www.its.caltech.edu/~ccenter/index.html

Tel: (626) 395-6860
Fax: (626) 793-7308

Director: Ms. Susan Wood

General Approach to Learning

Play-based

Play-based with some structure

Predominantly teacher-led instruction

Montessori

Waldorf

Co-op

Reggio-Emilia

Application Information

Applications accepted

While child is in utero

Wait list

Yes

Deadline for applications

Rolling

Key Statistics

Age cutoff for enrollment

6 months

Extended day

Yes

School year

Year round program

Parent Ratings

Parents at this school would recommend this school to other parents.

Quality of teaching

Development of social skills and work habits

Home-school connection

Parent community

Discipline

Facilities

Health

Safety

Handling of separation

Survey Information

Number of parents surveyed: 3

Savvy Source survey: Yes

General Info

Basic Stats

Established

1972

Transportation and Drop-off Policies

Transportation

- Parents bring their children to and from school

- Located close to public transportation

Dropoff Procedure

- Parents walk their child into the classroom

- 7:30 AM is the earliest time a parent can drop off a child

Late Pickup Policy: Any pick-up that occurs after 5:45 p.m. will be considered late, and the family will be charged $5.00 for each five minutes or portion thereof past closing time. This late fee will be used for staff development. Families with two children will need to pay late fees for both children, if arriving at the Center after 5:45 p.m. At 5:45 p.m. individuals listed on your alternate pick-up list will be contacted unless you have called in with an estimated time of arrival. If you will be late, the courtesy of a phone call will be appreciated, both by your child and the staff; however, the late charge will still be assessed. Extracted from Children's Center at Caltech website at http://www.its.caltech.edu/~ccenter/handbook/index.html

Features of the Preschool

Provide a kindergarten and elementary school program

No

Affiliated with a religious institution

No

Some experience serving children with special needs

Yes

• The Children's Center at Caltech supports the value of inclusion-the right of all children, regardless of their diverse abilities, to participate actively in natural settings with their peers. At the Children's Center, this means that we will, on a provisional basis, accept children with special needs who meet the waiting list criteria stated above. Depending on the nature and extent of the disability, continued enrollment will depend on frequent and on-going staff-parent communication, and on careful and continuous assessment of the viability of the arrangement for all concerned. Extracted from Children's Center at Caltech website at http://www.its.caltech.edu/~ccenter/handbook/index.html

Accreditation, Membership & Awards

Accreditation by the National Association of Young Children

Yes

Facilities

CONDITION OF FACILITIES RATING (4.5)

Building, bathrooms, hallway

Classroom equipment and furniture

Outside play equipment

School Philosophy & Day in the Life

School Philosophy and Mission

The philosophy of the Children's Center at Caltech has its basis in a humanistic view of the child as an independent and individual learner. The aim of the program is to respond to the needs of each child as s/he develops awareness of the world and readiness for learning. Each group provides developmentally appropriate materials and activities for children in the areas of social/emotional, intellectual and aesthetic growth and psychomotor development, while fostering a positive self-concept. Extracted from Children's Center at Caltech website at http://www.its.caltech.edu/~ccenter/philosophy.html

Typical Day-In-The-Life At This School

Director has not yet submitted this information to the Savvy Source

Curriculum & Teaching Approach

General Approach to Learning

Play-based

Play-based with some structure

Predominantly teacher-led instruction

Montessori

Waldorf

Co-op

Reggio-Emilia

Savvy Source's Comments

Our approach is consistent with research based on longitudinal observation of young children, which indicates that they learn best through their senses, needing many opportunities to initiate learning on their own, and needing periods of choice that alternate with periods of guidance. By means of these 'age-appropriate academics,' a strong foundation is built for the kindergarten experience which will follow the years at the Center. Extracted from Children's Center at Caltech website at http://www.its.caltech.edu/~ccenter/philosophy.html

Social Skills & Work Habits

OVERALL RATING (4.3)

This school has increased my child's:

Ability to listen and follow directions

Ability to sit still for longer periods of time

Ability to be a part of a group of children

Self-sufficiency and independence

Awareness of others’ feelings

Cooperation with other children

Curriculum and Teaching Approach


Language					-
Oral language	-	-	-	-	n/a
Nursery rhymes, poems, songs	-	-	-	-	n/a
Storybook reading	-	-	-	-	n/a
Emerging literacy skills	-	-	-	-	n/a

Cognitive Development					n/a
Math and number sense	-	-	-	-	-
Time & space	-	-	-	-	-
Sci. reasoning/physical world	-	-	-	-	-
Music	-	-	-	-	-

Visual arts	-	-	-	-	-
Physical activity	-	-	-	-	-

Other subjects taught					n/a

Quality of Teaching

Teachers Are:

OVERALL RATING: (5.0)

Full of energy and seemingly happy in job

Patient and affectionate with children

Talks with children and listens carefully when they are talking with him/her

Praises children for accomplishments and good behavior

Provides feedback on what my child does during the day

Shares insights on my child that are helpful and accurate

Identifies my child’s strengths and weaknesses

If necessary, provides additional support to my child during pickup and drop-off

Director's Comments on Individualized Teaching

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
Weekly music classes for all groups.

Home School Connection

Home-School Connection

OVERALL RATING (4.2)

Conducts an open house at start of school year

Conducts a parent-teacher meeting at start of school year

Conducts regular parent teacher conferences

Provides summary of child’s learning at end of year

Provides guidance on developmental goals for the following year

Provides guidance on best Kindergarten and elementary schools

Savvy Source's Comments

There are many lines of communication available between staff and parents. Each family has a mailbox. Because each 'child' is assigned a classroom mailbox you may have multiple mailboxes in more than one classroom attended by your children. (Therefore you may receive multiple copies of announcements.) Please check your mailbox daily for information from Center staff. Individual Teacher mailboxes are also provided in each classroom, should you need to get a message to any classroom teacher. The office boxes in each classroom are supplied with paper and pencils and may be used to get a message to anyone in the office. In turn, you may receive messages from administrators in your family classroom mailbox. The bulletin boards in each classroom have news and information regarding events at the Center. A Newsletter is published each month and placed in each family's mailbox [and posted on the website]. Another source of information regarding the Children's Center is the CCC Web Page. arent-Teacher Conferences are held formally at least once a year with each family, and twice a year for new families. Informal conferences can be scheduled at any time by either parents or teacher. Daily, informal chats with teachers are highly encouraged, though the children's presence demands that these be brief. Extracted from the Children's Center at Caltech website at http://www.its.caltech.edu/~ccenter/handbook/index.html

Separation

OVERALL RATING (5.0)

Parent Community

COHESIVENESS RATING (3.0)

Parents:

- Fundraise

- Are able to visit the school anytime we want

- Go on field trips

- Volunteer in the classroom

- Receive newsletters

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
Room Parents coordinate outside activates for their classes.

Modes of Communication Between School and Home

- Notes

- Phone Calls

- Email

- Special Meetings

- Two or More Regular Conferences

- Drop-Off

- Pick-Up

- Regular newsletter/printed updates circulated to the whole school

Discipline, Health and Safety

Discipline

OVERALL RATING (4.4)
Parents' Opinions
Parents at this school, on average, believe that conflicts between children: are handled extraordinarily well in a way that not only gives me confidence in the safety of my child but also reassures me that my child (and his/her peers) are learning the early skills needed to socialize effectively with one another

Health

OVERALL RATING (4.7)

Temperature and overall air circulation is comfortable

Healthy and nutritious snacks are provided

Toys and furniture are cleaned regularly

Food Allergies

Medications

- We will administer medication once per day if the proper form is filled out

Safety

OVERALL RATING (4.5)

Screen and identify all visitors

Parents may not bring sick children to school where they may infect others

Ages, Schedule & Tuition

Ages, Class Size, Days & Tuition

Ages	Class Size	Days	Tuition
From 3 years 6 months to 4 years 6 months	23	Mon 7:30am - 5:45pm Tue 7:30am - 5:45pm Wed 7:30am - 5:45pm Thu 7:30am - 5:45pm Fri 7:30am - 5:45pm	$921/Month
From 3 years 6 months to 4 years 6 months	23	Mon 7:30am - 5:45pm Tue 7:30am - 5:45pm Wed 7:30am - 5:45pm Thu 7:30am - 5:45pm Fri 7:30am - 5:45pm	$921/Month
From 3 years to --	17	Mon 7:30am - 5:45pm Tue 7:30am - 5:45pm Wed 7:30am - 5:45pm Thu 7:30am - 5:45pm Fri 7:30am - 5:45pm	$929/Month
From 2 years to --	15	Mon 7:30am - 5:45pm Tue 7:30am - 5:45pm Wed 7:30am - 5:45pm Thu 7:30am - 5:45pm Fri 7:30am - 5:45pm	$1024/Month
From 4 years to 5 years	24	Mon 7:30am - 5:45pm Tue 7:30am - 5:45pm Wed 7:30am - 5:45pm Thu 7:30am - 5:45pm Fri 7:30am - 5:45pm	$915/Month

Extended Care

- This school does have extended care

Calendar Year

School Year

Year round program

Application & Admissions

Application Process

Applications are accepted: While child is in utero

There is a wait list for upcoming school year.

Parent visits tours are: Recommended

Deadline for applications: Rolling

Application fee: $50

Admissions Process

Acceptance criteria: As openings occur, age-appropriate children are selected from the wait list based on application date to fill any vacancy in a class. There is also a separate Community wait list for applicants who are not affiliated. Extracted from the Children's Center at Caltech website at http://www.its.caltech.edu/~ccenter/handbook/index.html

Deposit required:

Parents must submit deposit within the following timeframe of receiving notification of acceptance: The initial non-refundable deposit of $500.00 is due upon acceptance of enrollment packet.

Financial aid is available.

Age/Child Requirements

Child must be 6 months to enroll.

Kindergarten Placement & Tips

Kindergarten Placement

Kindergartens that preschoolers from this school are now attending

Director and Parents have not yet submitted this information to the Savvy Source.

Parents' Admission Tips

Advice from Parents to Prospective Parents on Admissions

Parent #1
Good timing