On October 1, the Turrell Fund visited Children’s Day Preschool to learn more about high-quality preschool education as well how to best support children and their families.
What is Children’s Day Preschool?
Children’s Day Preschool (Children’s Day), located in Passaic, NJ is a high-quality, year-round preschool that serves children ages 2-5. The school also provides family services to further support parents and their children.
Children’s Day’s mission is to provide early childhood education that helps build child and family resilience, as well as nurture the development of young children.
Children’s Day was founded in 1893 by a group of philanthropic women who saw a need for quality care to support children of immigrant mill workers. Since its founding, Children’s Day has provided a welcoming learning environment to new American families.
What sets Children’s Day Preschool apart?
Children’s Day approaches early education with a major focus on developing young minds and providing an environment that promotes curiosity. The curriculum is based around child-based play, which is a critical element of early childhood success.
Executive Director Sue Dannemiller and Director Vicky Esposito-Novak also emphasized that screens are not present in classrooms to allow children to directly engage with their environment. Students are encouraged to use their imaginations whether they are building with blocks, painting, or playing at the kitchen.
Each classroom is designed with the students in mind, with everything being at eye-level. There is a daily routine on the wall that helps students feel a sense of predictability to their day.
Students engage in planning at the beginning of the day, where they pick an area in the classroom to spend their time and think about what they are going to do there. After an hour, students engage in recall with their teacher and classmates to discuss how their planning went.
Another major focus of Children’s Day is dual language learning. To build up the foundation for early literacy, each sign/label in the classroom is in both English and Spanish along with an image. Students develop an understanding of where specific toys go, what letters look like, and feel comfortable engaging in either Spanish or English.
Why is Children’s Day a Turrell Client?
Children’s Day goes above and beyond to provide additional support to students and their families.
Children’s Day provides comprehensive therapeutic support services to all enrolled students free of charge, which includes art and speech therapy. There is also an on-staff nurse who maintains connections with health specialists in the community including local physicians, dentists, and clinics.
For parents themselves, Children’s Day hosts family workshops and support groups that provide additional guidance on child development and promote community.
Sue and Vicky expressed how the community at Children’s Day is always there for parents and students, even when they graduate. Many former students come back as teachers or provide resources to current families.
Turrell Fund is proud to support Children’s Day and recognizes its excellent early education program as exemplary. Thank you for all you do!
