MSU Child Care Services
The program offers childcare services in Mayville and Hillsboro for children ages six weeks through kindergarten and in Cooperstown for children ages 3-5 for Early Head Start & Head Start children needing care beyond the Head Start hours.the EHS/HS hours, this is called wrap-around care and there is a charge.
Educational opportunities are offered in the classrooms and are available for all children (see curriculum and classroom environment for details). Meals and snacks are provided and the program follows USDA guidelines.
The following are policies which apply to childcare children:
- Parents are billed for the scheduled hours the child is to receive childcare, according to the fee agreement signed.
- Enrollment forms must be completed for all children enrolled in the childcare program before care will be provided.Children are asked to bring an extra set of labeled clothes to the center should an accident or spill happen while at the center.
- Teachers and care teachers will notify parents if anything else is needed.
CHEERS
The CHEERS program is available to kindergarten through sixth grade children, at Peter Boe Jr. Elementary in Mayville and the Hillsboro Armory site. We believe children are over-programmed and over-controlled and no longer have the luxury of simply being just kids. Many need a break to unwind and unpack the events of the day. The goal of the program is not to provide more structured activities the children must participate in, but to provide an environment that will allow them to make appropriate choices during this "free time." Children will have the opportunity for indoor and outdoor play, snacks, organized enrichment activities, quiet time and supervised homework time.
Children are allowed to bring a favorite item from home. It is understood that the item can be shared with others and it is the responsibility of the child and parent or guardian to see the item is taken home each day.
Collaborative Pre-K
At selected sites, the Child Development Programs collaborate with local school districts to provide a Pre-K environment. Collaborative agreements currently in place outline programs, enrollment and other aspects of the program. Head Start center-based services are integrated at the sites. The classrooms provide Head Start and preschool opportunities to children who will are planning to attend kindergarten the following school year. Options for days vary from site to site as the hours are set to the school district's schedule. These classrooms also follow the school district calendar.
Infant/Toddler Care (Early Head Start and Childcare children)
The Infant/Toddler Program has classrooms with mixed age groups ranging from 6 weeks to approximately 24-30 months. The groups depend upon space available, child readiness, make-up of the group and where the child "fits in" best, based on skills and development. Primary care-giving is utilized in the classrooms. This implies one care teacher will be accountable for a group of children in the classroom. The care teacher will be responsible for lesson planning, parent communication and the routine care throughout the day. Limiting the number of adults who have contact with children during important bonding routines and teachable moments develops trust with young children. It is a priority in the Infant/Toddler rooms to maintain stability and consistency in the childcare setting.
Children will be moved to the transition room when they are between 24-30 months of age. This move will depend upon guidelines stated previously, where the child "fits in" best, space availability, child readiness and the make-up of the group.
