A Message From Founders Barry & Wendy Meil
Background
In 1994 Winwood Children’s Center commissioned a study of
the child care industry in the Washington, D.C. area. It showed
that the entire metropolitan area was experiencing a shortage of
center based care. The study indicated that the middle to upper
middle income parents needed child care. These parents tend to look
for a child care program that offers more than just baby-sitting.
They expect the center to offer a safe and nurturing environment,
motivated teachers and staff, and a curriculum that emphasizes age
appropriate cognitive development.
The child care industry is rapidly emerging as a major factor in
today’s business and government market place, and a significant
factor impacting the day to day lives of millions of families.
Fueled by the dramatic shifts in lifestyle and employment trends,
the market for quality child care is expanding as more women of
child bearing age, or with school- children, enter the workforce.
As the demand for child care services grows at a record pace, the
availability of high quality, affordable child care continues in
short supply for workers seeking to purchase the service, as well
as businesses looking to offer child care benefits to their employees.
Our Name
We did an exhaustive search for a name that conveyed an upbeat,
prestigious image, that could be registered nationwide. We selected
Winwood, because of the symbolism of the two elements making up
the name. "Win", symbolizing success. "Wood",
representing a solid foundation.
"Winwood Children’s Center" was registered with
the US. Patent and Trademark Office in December, 1995.
In January, 1996 we contracted to have the logo designed. We wanted
a look that was professional/business like, yet conveyed that we
were catering to children.
The logo, which includes the butterfly, symbolizes the development
of children. The logo was registered with the US. Patent and Trademark
Office in February, 1996.
Our Purpose
Winwood Children’s Center’s objective is to offer high
quality child care throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan
area. The centers cater to the full time needs of children aged
six weeks to pre-kindergarten, plus a before and after school age
program and summer enrichment camps for children ages 5-10.
Winwood Children’s Center offers exceptional service at a
reasonable cost, even though it may be somewhat higher than competing
centers. Children deserve the best and parents deserve peace-of-mind!
They are trusting their child each day, believing they have selected
the "next best thing to being home". Although we might
not be able to meet the needs of every parent, we believe by partnering
with our parents we can accomplish mutual goals for their children.
Our Promise
We promise to give our best every day to meet the needs of each
child at a Winwood Children’s Center as well as support and
provide rewarding opportunities for children and their families
in the community.
Our Philosophy
Our program philosophy is grounded on the principle that children
should have a happy, safe, and healthy environment in which to learn
and play. How that environment is structured and maintained is up
to a team of educators and administrators dedicated to quality care
for children and families.
Hygiene is of the utmost importance. We believe healthy children
are happy children. We know that children and adults thrive in an
environment which is disease free. Keeping our environment clean
requires the work of many different players.
Keeping children safe during their day at Winwood Children's Center
is of utmost importance. Our teachers will be responsible for establishing
guidelines in the classroom to involve children in a world of exploration,
and for keeping them safe during that exploration. Our Center is
dedicated to ensuring that children are safe while in our care.
The most important responsibility, perhaps, that we have as child
care professionals is to ensure that each child in our care is given
opportunities to develop positive self-esteem. This is achieved,
in part, by making certain that all discipline practices are positive,
consistent, and age appropriate. Children flourish best in an environment
that honors them for their cultural differences, their individual
interests, and their varied abilities. Our staff members are sensitive
to the emotional, social, physical, and intellectual needs of each
child in our care.
Active parent involvement in our program is our goal. When families
and educators work together in a child's development, that child
has increased opportunities for growth and learning. Bridging each
child's education between the Center and the home will ensure the
development of empowered individuals having the necessary attributes
that lead to responsible adulthood.
Our Center is a community composed of the parents of our children,
and our staff and administrators. Each member of the community plays
an important and integral role, and has a common goal in mind: the
well-being and positive development of our children. This commitment
to our clients - our children and parents - is the very basis of
our program. We ask that each member of our community maintain the
highest level of commitment to that goal.
Program Overview
The Winwood tagline "Nurturing Strengths That Last A Lifetime"
and the brochure were created in 1997 to outline the Winwood program.
During this period, the "Winwood Difference" was defined
through the educational/enrichment programs. In 1997 work began
on the curriculum specifically designed for the Winwood Children’s
Centers. The Winwood curriculum incorporates a creative movement
and physical fitness program. At Winwood, a healthy mind and body
reinforces the foundation of a quality lifestyle.
The Winwood multi-cultural curriculum is a developmentally age
appropriate early education program based on the concepts of the
renowned educators, Maria Montessori and Reggio Emilia. There will
be a computer center that will introduce computers to younger children
and will develop the skills of older children. Foreign language
instruction will be provided on a weekly basis with an emphasis
on sharing the languages of the diverse Winwood community.
An exciting program for school age children takes place at Winwood
in the "Kid’s Loft". This discovery and activity
zone is in a separate wing of the building and is created specifically
as an entertaining and rewarding atmosphere for children ages 5-10.
The variety of on-going activities constantly changes to enrich
and challenge each child’s experiences through creativity,
sports and practical life experiences.
Winwood will offer a wide range of programs for the children and
their families including extracurricular tutoring, and enrichment
programs such as entertainers, creative movement, music , computer
lab, field trips, games and recreation as well as after work parent
education programs.
Our Mission
Winwood Children’s Center’s mission is excellence in
service to the child, the parent, the family and the community.
We realize that even with a good program, a developmentally healthy
child needs a positive interaction with his/her parents when he/she
is at home. Therefore, we put a strong emphasis on partnering with
the parents - bridging from the center to the work place and to
the home. A strong emphasis is placed on family activities and parent
education.
Winwood Children’s Center’s management team will communicate
on a regular basis with the Advisory Council. The professional advisors
come from a diversified background in education, health, and a variety
of children’s programs. The recommendations and support, in
a changing and challenging world, will help us address the concerns,
needs, trends and opportunities for our children, parents, families
and staff. The extra professional support helps all of us provide
additional learning experiences and better quality with suggestions,
solutions and positive reinforcement.
Our Staffing
The child care industry is known for it’s high staff turnover.
Although we cannot eliminate the problem, it has been a tradition
of our company to provide an environment that builds employee loyalty.
Winwood offers our staff a comprehensive compensation package equal
to the quality programs we provide. Employees who are happy and
enjoy their work, help stimulate a positive environment for our
families.
Military Families
We accept Military fee assistance from NACCRRA. Visit www.NACCRRA.org for eligibility requirements.
Many of our schools have partnered with the National Association Child Care Resource and Referral Agency (NACCRRA) to offer active duty military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine, National Guard and Reserves) assistance and reduced tuition rates when child care at a military installation is not available. Contact your school of choice for information.
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