Rodale Child Care

Name: Hildebrandt Learning Centers/

Rodale Child Care

Location:

420 S. 10^th St. Emmaus, PA 18049

Center History: When the Rodale Child Care Center opened on September 3, 1991, at 1020
Pennsylvania Avenue, it was licensed for 33 children. Judy Goldman was named Director, and she continues to serve in that capacity. The Center is managed by Hildebrandt Learning Centers. Through the years, the Center continued to expand until in 2000, 115 children were being cared for at Pennsylvania Avenue and in the Kindergarten classes in our South Mountain Building. Meanwhile, in 1993, Rodale began a Summer School Age program, which is now conducted at the Working Tree Center on Cedar Crest Boulevard. With the opening of our new Center on 10th Street in 2001, the Rodale Child Care program can now accommodate up to 184 children. The Center gives the children a bright, open, creative environment in which to thrive and grow. It
also reflects Rodale’s commitment to the environment through its use of recycled and environmentally friendly materials. Organic foods are served. Also, the children participate in composting.

Mission Statement: Our mission is to partner with families of young children, collaborating with other early childhood professionals and community resource personnel to enhance the development and learning of each child through age-appropriate curriculum, play, individualized assessments, and nurturing relationships.

Program Philosophy: Hildebrandt Learning Centers strives to promote quality, early care and learning programs that encourage the development of the whole child from the time they enroll in our centers until they depart. Our program philosophy is founded on a developmental learning model which promotes all areas of a child’s development, including emotional, social, linguistic, physical, and cognitive. This model of learning requires that all aspects of our program be focused on learning experiences based on the child’s developmental age and interests, their individual needs and learning styles, and on meaningful experiences that reflect the child’s cultural background.

Accreditation Dates: June 2001-present

AEYC involvement: LANAEYC is our local chapter

Classrooms/ages & numbers: Infants (0-12 mo.), Young Toddler (13-24 mo.), Older Toddler (25mo-3yr), Young Preschool (3 yrs), Preschool 1 (4-5 yr), Preschool 2 (4-5 yr), Kindergarten, After School (6-12 yrs)

Parent involvement component: Hildebrandt Learning Centers is committed to families. It is for this reason that the family plays such a vital role in the center. The programs are developed with family participation as an integral component. Daily communication with families helps the staff build a necessary bridge between home and center. We encourage families to visit, share talents, attend field trips, etc. The center has an extensive library of information on a variety of topics. If families need information on a specific topic, it may be obtained from their child's teacher or the Center Director.
Communication
In an effort to keep all families informed of center happenings, we offer a variety of center communications that may include, but are not limited to:
• Newsletters
• Family Information Board
• HLC “What I Did Today” posting
• Individual conferences to discuss your child’s development
• Parenting Information Library
• Workshops or “Lunch & Learns”
• “Take Home Folder”
• Displays to showcase the child’s learning and integration of State Learning Standards and Creative Curriculum Goals

PennAEYC

Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children