About Us
Contact Us
Mission Statement
Vision
Philosophy
Goals
Curriculum
History
|
|
Mission Statement
The Mission of TCDC is to provide quality, affordable early care and education to children within our economically and
ethnically diverse community. We strive to provide stability and support to the children in our care and to their
families, so that together we can truly impact future generations.
TCDC seeks to accomplish its goals:
- Serving 32 children so that each child and family feels comfortable and secure in a family-like atmosphere.
- Serving a variety of races, cultures, and family backgrounds, using diversity as a positive attribute in a
place where children grow and develop attitudes for life.
Our grounds, facility, and caring community literally put their arms around toddlers and young children in order to
appreciate, nurture, protect, and guide them while they in turn develop a healthy respect for themselves, for others,
and for God's world.
Vision
Our desire is be an important link in a communal group of organizations, working to establish strong roots for children and a feeling of
community for their families by offering the best quality and most affordable care possible. We envision a world where young children
are given priority by the adult community around them and where families of all economic circumstances have equal access to quality
early care and education for their young children. The hundreds of parents who are on waiting lists for subsidized child care find
safe, educational, high quality care for their children. Society and individuals alike affirm the importance of a strong early
foundation and of quality interactions between young children and the adults in their lives. We also envision a world where child care
teachers and staff are given respect, education, and compensation that are commensurate with the importance of their work.
Philosophy
 Trinity Child Development Center
purposefully focuses on the developmental levels and needs of young children. We recognize the essential connection between social, emotional,
physical, cognitive, language, creative and spiritual development as parts of each individual. We honor and celebrate diversity and uniqueness
of each individual, and plan for differences in abilities, interests, learning styles and experience.
We believe:
- the early years are critical learning years which offer the opportunity to maximize potential brain development in young children
- responsive, nurturing relationships are key to quality early education and care
- safe, predictable environments help children to develop trust
- positive guidance methods build competence and self confidence
- children learn through active play
- parents and families are important teachers of children
- learning must be tied to positive emotions
- all children need advocates
Therefore we offer:
- experienced staff with extensive training in early care and education
- consistent, comforting and fun routines that meet the needs of each age group
- positive guidance methods including clear limits, redirection, modeling, opportunities to make choices,
and positive expectations of each child
- planned activities and experiences to develop self help skills and independence
- extensive opportunities to actively use all five senses
- a myriad of experiences to explore and discover our world and how it works
- an environment that fosters the ability to work cooperatively within a climate of unity and interdependence
- support of parents and staff for the important work that they are doing
- opportunities for everyone to develop, practice, and model happy, healthy behaviors
- small classes and low child to teacher ratios
- community building activities which lead to an extended family atmosphere where children feel at home
Goals for Our Program
- To appreciate the individuality of oneself and others
- To be self-confident in one's abilities
- To develop and demonstrate self-regulation
- To develop positive relationships with others
- To develop and demonstrate pro-social attitudes
- To develop and demonstrate conflict resolution skills
- To develop and demonstrate independence skills
- To develop and demonstrate gross and fine motor physical skills
- To develop a healthy lifestyle
- To nurture creativity
- To develop and demonstrate communication skills
- To develop academic skills (intellectual competence)
Curriculum
The curriculum is what is taught and learned at Trinity CDC. The major focus is to help each child acquire a healthy self-concept and to reach
his/her potential more fully. This is accomplished by exposing him/her to many interesting things to explore and discover. Learning takes place
when it is relevant, integrated, and offered through "hands-on" experiences.
Teachers structure the curriculum by changing the environment and by listening to the children's interests. These "emergent curriculum" ideas,
which come from the children and the adults who know them, vary from year to year dependent on the particular children. They also come from
events and experiences, and cultural and community happenings. They are tied to children's real-life experiences, and can be translated into hands-on action.
The curriculum planning focuses on all areas of a child's development: physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and spiritual through the integrated approach.
Children are encouraged to explore, create, and learn at their own pace which motivates learning. Teachers understand and plan for the relationship between
equipment and materials available in the classroom and on the playground and the skills and concepts children need to develop.
Teachers' plans are based on regular observation and assessment of children's activities, interests, needs, and developmental levels. Materials are selected
that seem to match those particular children's interests and needs. The teachers recognize the fact that the individual children are our program and with
each group of children come different needs, challenges, and strengths.
The center environment includes home living and creative dramatics, blocks, science, manipulatives, listening, art, library, language arts, sensory, and
discovery. Group activities include music and movement education, food preparation and enjoyment, transition activities (fingerplays, songs, creative
dramatics); visitors in the classroom, trips to the library next door, storytime, and chapel.
Chapel once a week is led by the director and varies again according to the needs of the group. Songs are sung and often a story, flannelboard pictures,
or puppet lead the children in hearing a Bible story of value.
Children learn throughout the day from everything they do. Learning experiences are not isolated to one period of the day. Children are
encouraged to make choices, practice self-help skills, express their feelings, and respect others. Over our thirty-six years of existence,
Trinity CDC has provided a strong foundation to hundreds of children's future learning experiences.
Behavior Management:
Guidance and discipline techniques are based on an understanding of individual needs and development while helping the children to acquire
self-discipline and self-control over their own actions. Staff concentrate on recognizing and encouraging acceptable behavior. They set
limitations and give clear directions on the child's level of understanding. Children are encouraged to use their words and solve problems
on their own. Teachers model positive interactions and appreciate each child's feelings. They anticipate behaviors, offer choices, and redirect.
Parents are asked to share information as to how they handle various behaviors at home.
History
Trinity Child Development Center, an independent and incorporated 501(c)(3) organization, originally opened in 1964 as a morning preschool
program during the school year. As the needs of families in northeast Austin have changed, TCDC has evolved to caring for children full-time
and year-round. Flexible schedules are offered in order to support the needs of parents with alternative work schedules. The center serves a
diverse group of children in terms of ethnic background and socioeconomic level. TCDC is in the same location but the building has a new owner,
the Austin Mennonite Church. TCDC has an excellent location next to the Windsor Park Branch Library and near two elementary schools. Our grassy
courtyard has large trees and two separate and beautiful age-specific playgrounds.
In 1995, TCDC became a designated vendor with Capital Area Child Care Management Services and has held its highest rating since 1997. Licensed
by the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, TCDC is also an accredited Texas Rising Star Provider with Work Source Child Care
Solutions. In 2001, TCDC became an NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) accredited institution. We admit without
discriminations in favor of or against any child on the basis of race, national origin, religion or challenging conditions.
|
Our Address
About Us