Penobscot Bay Medical Center
Creative Learning and Childcare Center
How long has the program been in business?
Our center has been in continuous operation since Feb. 14, 1990.
What are the hours of operation?
7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Does the center keep a waiting list? Is there a fee to get on it?
Yes, we keep a waiting list. There is a $50 non-refundable deposit to go on our waiting list. Once a space becomes available for your child, the fee is applied to your tuition. The waiting list deposit is waived for Pen Bay Healthcare employees.
How do I get on the waiting list or enroll my child?
Please give us a call at 596-8700 to set up an appointment for a tour and an overview of our policies. If you decide this is the program for your child, we will add your name to the waiting list upon receipt of the $50 waiting list deposit. When a class has a vacancy, we contact the next family on the waiting list. A $250 non-refundable security deposit is required to guarantee enrollment for new students. This deposit is also applied to your tuition.
Are there vacancies?
Yes! We currently have openings for both the Curious Corner and Magic Moments preschool classrooms. The infant and toddler classrooms have waiting lists.
Typically, the waiting list is longer for infants and toddlers than for preschool children. Vacancies are filled from our waiting list on a first-come, first-served basis with priority given to Pen Bay Healthcare employees.
Is the Center only open to Pen Bay Healthcare employees?
No. Although employees do get priority on openings, PBMC Creative Learning and Childcare Center is open to community families.
What is the total number of children attending?
Between full and part-time children, we have about 65 children enrolled.
How are the children divided into age groups?
The children are divided into four classrooms depending upon age.
Precious Bundles (infants) ages 6 weeks to 12 – 15 months
Busy Bees (toddlers) ages 12 months to 2½ years old
Curious Corner (young preschoolers) ages 2½ years to 3½ years old
Magic Moments (older preschoolers) ages 3½ years to pre-k age 5
What is the staff training and turnover rate?
All of our teachers have post-secondary degrees or have earned their Child Development Associate credential. All staff members are required to complete inservice training annually. Seven of our staff members have been here since the center opened 17 years ago.
Are there any pets?
No.
What is the general philosophy of the program?
We believe that children learn primarily through play and therefore, we use play experiences to foster children’s development in all areas: physical development, cognitive development, social/emotional development, and language development. Content learning in the areas of literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, the arts, technology, and process skills, are integrated into children’s play experiences. We believe that the primary role of the teacher is to build relationships with children, provide an appropriate learning environment, and provide opportunities for many firsthand experiences that invite children to investigate, represent, and care. We believe that when families are an integral part of the school program, children’s self-esteem and achievement are enhanced. We use The Creative Curriculumâ as the framework for our early care and education program. Precious Bundles and Busy Bees follow The Creative Curriculum for Infants, Toddlers, and Twos , while Curious Corner and Magic Moments follow The Creative Curriculum for Preschool . The Creative Curriculum is founded on years of research in the field of early care and education. It provides guidance for setting up the learning environment, the teacher’s role, the family’s role, and of course, children’s learning and development.
What are the teacher-child ratio and group sizes?
Teacher – child ratios depend on the age of the children in the class.
Precious Bundles (infants) 1:4, maximum 8 babies
Busy Bees (toddlers) 1:5, maximum 10 toddlers
Curious Corner (young preschoolers) 1:7, maximum 14 children
Magic Moments (older preschoolers) 1:10, maximum 20 children
Do children need to be toilet trained before entering?
No.
Are snacks and meals provided?
No. Parents provide lunch and two snacks for their child. The center provides milk and juice. We are a peanut-free facility.
What do I bring each day?
In addition to lunch and snacks, parents bring a couple changes of clothes, a small blanket and stuffed animal for quiet time, diapers / wipes / ointments (if applicable). Bottles, formula and / or breast milk, and baby food for infants. Please see the detailed list in the childcare center's online program overview.
Can I come visit my child during the day?
Our visitation policies are wide open. We welcome and encourage parent participation. There are many opportunities for parents to volunteer with classroom projects, fundraising events or special celebrations.
Updated: 7/2/09