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September 13, 2004
Daycare Center meets needs
Brittney Bigler
Mesa Legend
The need for childcare services for young through middle-aged college students is increasing dramatically. Mesa Community College, as well as other colleges and in the Maricopa District, are responding to the increasing need of student parents.
The general age of student parents varies from the early twenties to mid-thirties and forties. Particularly at a community college, the need seems to be greater in that there are more students who are coming back to school for anything from getting a degree to increase their status or income at their job.
Mesa Community College is proud of the childcare facilities that they are able to offer to student parents. According to the facilities Family Hand Book, their goal is to, “provide quality childcare and development services to meet the diverse and unique needs of Mesa Community College.”
Naturally, parents have many concerns when considering a childcare facility for their child or children. Such concerns such as cost, convenience, trained teachers, healthy and clean facilities, as well as a safe and fun environment,.
Mesa Community College’s Children’s Center knows that these are all major concerns to parents, and the centers’ administrators make sure all of these concerns are addressed with the highest standards.
The facility is backed by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
“Our standards go above and beyond the normal expectations,” said Ginger Sandweg, General Director over the Children’s Center. “All of our teachers have bachelor degrees in Early Childhood Development, and are highly trained and experienced in their field, as well as being MCCCD Board Approved.”
Until noon only children between the ages of three and five are permitted in the childcare program. “Because the majority of six- to 12-year-olds are enrolled in school, we offer only programs and activities appropriate for the younger children,” said Sandweg.
The Children’s Center uses an Emergent Curriculum, in that the teaching and activities emerge from the children’s play, allowing teachers to teach and explore subjects in the children’s interests. “Our teacher’s plan education activities, and we prepare children for future learning, as well as giving them a strong social foundation,” said Sandweg.
MCC helps to fund the Children’s Center, helping to keep the cost low for student parents who are on a tight budget. Students pay $1.75 per hour and employee’s pay $2.25 per hour. Both parents and employees are required to pay a reasonable $15 registration fee each semester, as well as enrolling their child each individual semester. This small general fee helps pay for food and supplies for the children and facility.
The Children’s Center is open from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and
7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Fridays, in an effort to accommodate students’ busy school schedules.
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