Ronald McDonald Comes to Shepherdstown Day Care

September 9, 2009

Shepherdstown Day Care (SDC) will celebrate the official opening of its new playgrounds with a ribbon cutting ceremony and community party on Monday, September 14th at 4:00. Special guest Ronald McDonald will help the Day Care staff and Board of Directors thank the many members of the community who contributed with funds and hard work to this project. SDC Director Melissa Holman "is pleased, and grateful, that our children of all ages are enjoying their new outdoor space. This wonderful project would not have been possible without the generosity from foundations, government grants and many individuals. We are indebted to the community for their support."

Features of the newly renovated outside space include separate age-specific playgrounds, climbing equipment, delightfully landscaped trike paths, a climbing berm for toddlers, and lovely trees thoughtfully peppered throughout. Local landscaper Eric Sundback (who was recently selected to provide the White House Christmas tree) designed SDC's outdoor space and donated his skill, labor and many trees to this project.

An elaborate preschool climber, funded by a grant from the Ronald McDonald House Charities, is the centerpiece of SDC's new outside space. Board President Lynn Wilson says, "The Shepherdstown community is grateful to the Ronald McDonald House Charities, not only for the climber that generations of children will enjoy, but also for the significant support they gave to the Ellsworth family this last year, while their son Mason, an SDC alumnus, was recovering from a serious car accident."

The SDC staff and Board extend an invitation to the community to stop by, see the new playgrounds and meet Ronald McDonald himself.

SDC Celebrates Week of the Young Child With New Program Initiative

April 24, 2009

Each April, in communities throughout the nation, a specific week is designated to honor young children: The Week of the Young Child is a time to focus attention on the needs of young children, to advocate for them and to celebrate the people and organizations that serve them. As this year's Week of the Young Child ends, the parents and board of Shepherdstown Day Care (SDC) are honoring the Center's staff with a pot luck lunch: a small token of the large thanks they deserve.

SDC has been serving our community's children for over 35 years. Dedicated Boards of Directors, government agencies, foundations and hundreds of individuals have committed their resources and talents to expand the Center's services and facility. Just in the last few years, SDC opened a new addition for infants & toddlers, added a Pre-K class, renovated existing classrooms and is now in the final stages of a huge outdoor renovation project.

These changes to the 1943 Eastside Elementary School building, home to SDC, are significant, but would be soundless without the loving, dedicated and talented staff who work each day to serve the 100 children enrolled in the Center. Teachers, administrators, kitchen and housekeeping staff (some of whom have been at SDC for decades), are the heart of SDC. It is because of them that parents can comfortably leave their children each day. It is because of them that those children develop skills and confidence for later school success. It is because of them that SDC is so well respected in the community.

As we celebrate the Week of the Young Child, I am proud and pleased to announce that the SDC Board of Directors has committed to formally begin the process of working toward national accreditation. All childcare centers need to be licensed by the state to open their doors; licensure ensures a floor for quality and safety. Only a very small percentage seek and achieve voluntary national accreditation, which aims to produce, encourage, and acknowledge excellence.

The same national organization that sponsors the Week of the Young Child administers the national accreditation system for early childhood programs. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), with 100,000 members, is the largest professional group representing childcare centers, family day care homes, and early childhood professionals. Accreditation standards address all aspects of early childhood programming. In recent years, SDC has developed its curriculum and practices based on these accreditation standards. The actual accreditation process is multi-faceted, lengthy and costly but rewarding. An effort worthy of SDC staff, deserving of our children, and enabled by the trust and support given us by the Shepherdstown community.

Shepherdstown Day Care Playground

September 5, 2008

Anyone passing by East German Street in the last few months must have noticed a flurry of activity at Shepherdstown Day Care. The Day Care is in the process of a huge, multi-phase project to add specially designed playground areas, an upgraded parking lot, and a transformed landscape.

This is no small project. Its execution would not be possible without generous donations of funds, time, materials and expertise of many. State of the art playground equipment, supplied by Taylor Sports and Recreation, is funded by grants from the Ronald McDonald House Charities, the West Virginia Community Partnership Grant (thanks to Delegate John Doyle), and a youth grant from the West Virginia Community Fund. A Community Grant from the Corporation of Shepherdstown is helping us purchase fencing.

In addition to the many donors who supported our 2007 Annual Fund Campaign, the Board of Directors is grateful for donations of labor and materials from Pete and Sallie Spaulding, Kenny Shipley, DeLawder's Hauling and Excavating, Brad Riley of Action Concrete Supplies, Bill Knode, Barrett Excavating, the Shepherdstown Men's Club and the Shepherdstown Garden Club. Quite a team!

And then there's Eric Sundback. His vision, generosity and hard work are transforming the Day Care. Dozens of new trees, a charming trike path winding through the preschool playground and a gentle sloping berm for toddlers to climb are highlights of the new child-friendly landscape that, thanks to Eric, children will enjoy for generations.

For over three decades strong community support has enabled us to serve working families. This year is no exception. The Board of Directors, staff, parents and especially the children are enormously grateful. Look for a celebration of our new outside space this fall.

Shepherdstown Day Care is awarded funding for Music and Dance

Fall, 2008

The Shepherdstown Day Care received funding from the Mardi Gras Fund to continue and expand its arts education program. This year's line up includes: Dance classes with Kitty Clark, professional dancer, chorographer, director of Goose Route Dance Collaborative, and experienced teacher; Story-telling and singing with Kathleen Dawe, whose years of experience include teaching the Lap Babies at Shepherdstown Public Library; and the latest addition, Jesse Schultzaberger, professional musician, member of Shepherdstown's Speakeasy Boys and music teacher. In addition to introducing basic music theory to the preschool and Pre-K children, Jesse is organizing an Artist Series of professional musicians.

According to Board President Lynn Wilson, "The Artist Series will bring a range of musicians to the Center for informal performances of such instruments as banjo, drums, guitar, washboard, jug, trombone and bass. Our children will experience a rich variety of music including bluegrass and jazz, and will have a close-up and personal experience with a variety of musicians." Wilson said she is delighted that the Day Care is able to offer these enriching art experiences and is extremely grateful to the Mardi Gras Fund, and president Quincy Northrup, for their support of art education in general and the Shepherdstown Day Care in particular. Center Director Melissa Holman agrees, "The special art experiences enrich our entire curriculum. Staff, parents and children all appreciate having these wonderful opportunities for our children."

Shepherdstown Day Care Receives County and State Grants

August 30, 2008

The Shepherdstown Day Care received grants from The Jefferson County Commission and the state of WV to support its tuition assistance program and to help fund the construction of an ADA compliant children's bathroom.

Click here to view the entire Press Release.

Pre-K Collaborative at SDC Continues

The Shepherdstown Day Care Center and the Jefferson County Board of Education are collaborating for the second year to provide a Pre-K program for four-year-olds in the 2008-09 school year.

Click here to view the entire Press Release.

Making a Joyful Sound Unto the Lord

Click here to read an article about Mr. Day Care Center, Keith Boyd.

SDC Introduces New Curriculum

Fall, 2007

SDC's new curriculum: The "Creative Curriculum" is a teaching approach founded on theories of how young children develop cognitive, language, social and emotional skills. It is a system of planning and assessment used to design classroom environments to stimulate children's learning and development. In preparation for launching this curriculum the Board of Directors sent two teachers to an intensive 4-day early childhood conference in Washington D.C. in August. Melissa Holman, who was recently promoted to a newly created Head Teacher position at the Center, will guide the curriculum's implementation.

SDC Opens New Infant-Toddler Wing

Fall, 2006

On its 33rd anniversary in September, the Center celebrated the dedication of its new 4,600 sq ft addition: The Ruth D. Brown Infant and Toddler Wing. The addition, made possible by support from a myriad of sources including a $150,000 bequest from Keith Knost in 2002, generous grants from the Helen Parker Willard Foundation, the State, the Corporation of Shepherdstown, the Jefferson County Commission, and contributions from many individuals in the community, began as the vision of Ruth Brown and the Board in the late 1990s.